Despite concerted attempts by industrial countries, led by the European Union, to give primacy to the green economy, the Rio+20 declaration concludes lamely that countries “express our determination to address the themes of the Conference, namely a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development”.
The concept of a green economy surfaced this time at Rio and threatened to subsume the earlier goal of sustainable development. While the latter clearly enjoins industrial countries to reduce their consumption of natural resources for future generations, the green economy would imply no such compulsion and, on the contrary, open up a huge market for products and technologies which the North could sell to developing countries.
Ä large majority of international NGOs was concerned that the original 27 Rio 1992 principles, including equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, would be attacked, Chee Yoke Ling , director of programmes at the Third World Network in Penang, told the media.
“The green economy generated tremendous controversy and will have to be fought at the local level -- by communities which are engaged in environment and development. Otherwise, it will amount to ‘greenwash’, business as usual, and could provide access to the last remaining commons (natural resources),”she said.
She was concerned that small and medium enterprises, which constituted “the real economy” would be endangered: “there is no a containment of them”. She also decried the fact that there was actually "zero funding” from industrial to development countries.
Nevertheless, Northern negotiators have fought a rearguard action to include facets of the green economy. The declaration reads: “We affirm that there are different approaches, visions, models and tools available to each country, in accordance with its national circumstances and priorities, to achieve sustainable development which is our overarching goal. In this regard, we consider green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication as one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development and that it could provide options for policy making but should not be a rigid set of rules.”
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No one can discredit the notion of the green economy per se, but it is a moot point whether it is such an important tool in achieving sustainable development. Just to cite one instance, the UN Millennium Development Goals which seeks to halve those facing poverty and lack of access to drinking water and sanitation and other minimum needs by 2015, would surely do far more.
There has been talk here, initiated by Prof Jeffrey Sachs of The Earth Institute of Columbia University, among others, of introducing a new set of Sustainable Development Goals. However, when the MDGs have not themselves been met, it may have made more sense to extend the deadline for achieving these basic rights.
Meanwhile, the excessive role of the private sector in achieving development goals has come in for stringent criticism. Meena Raman of TWN told Business Standard : “There is an entire section on engaging major groups and other stakeholders. However, this section also recognises the active participation of the private sector in sustainable development. It supports national regulatory and policy frameworks to enable private sector engagement. There is no recognition for international regulation for corporate accountability.
“Our concerns are that the real powerful TNCs (transnational corporations) who are drivers of much of the unsustainable development and environmental destruction are left free to be involved in public private partnerships. In Rio 1992, the global community did nothing to control TNCs. In Rio +10, some attempt was made to push for corporate accountability but this was very weak. Here in Rio+20, once again, the drivers of real destruction are getting away scot-free.”
The UN Secretary General’s Security for All initiative at Rio, which has three objectives -- ensuring energy access, doubling energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy – by 2030 has attracted $50 billion from businesses and investors, apart from much more funding from governments.
Microsoft has committed to going carbon neutral and will be rolling out an internal carbon fee that will apply to Microsoft’s business operations in over 100 countries. By putting a price on carbon, Microsoft aims to drive greater advances in efficiency in data centres and buildings, increase the procurement of renewable energy, and reduce travel-related emissions.
The Global Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Partnership is scaling access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking. The commitment will shift 50 million people to LPG for cooking by 2018 and include more than $750 million of new capital to invest in LPG systems and address first cost barriers for usage. Partners include the LPG industry, World LPG Association, and the World Bank, among others.
The Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership pledges to install 50, 000 solar lanterns that will provide clean electricity to off-grid households. It will expand efforts in developing and emerging countries to transfer business know-how and expertise in electrification projects,
There is an Indian initiative too: Infosys, which provides business and outsourcing services in 32 countries, commits to reducing energy consumption by half and sourcing all its electricity from renewables, by 2018.