GREEN GROWTH by ER Florano

Figure 1: The Four Elements of Green Growth (Adopted with modifications from the original model of Woo 2009. Woo is Secretary-General of South Korea’s Presidential Committee on Green Growth)

Green Growth: Concept and Pillars

“Green Growth” (GG) is a strategy for “sustainable development.” It recognizes that the present generation, not only the future generations, must be saved from the onslaughts of natural and man-made disasters brought about by the pursuit of economic development which should not be stifled, for a win-win situation. In a more technical sense, GG is an eco-efficiency based strategy which “advocates growth in GDP that maintains or restores environmental quality and ecological integrity, while meeting the needs of all people with the lowest possible environmental impacts. It is a strategy that seeks to maximize economic output while minimizing the ecological burdens” (UNESCAP 2008a:3). In 2005, GG was adopted by 52 governments in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, as a path for development.

GG has four pillars, namely: (1) eco-tax reform, (2) sustainable infrastructure, (3) greening of business, and (4) sustainable consumption (UNESCAP 2008b:18).

Eco-tax reform requires the internalization of environmental costs in the market and revenue neutrality, i.e., green taxes should not pose as an additional burden.

Sustainable infrastructure calls for eco-efficiency, that is, less consumption of natural resources (e.g., energy, water, land and raw materials) and less pollution during the construction and usage of infrastructure.

Greening business advocates for environmentally-sustainable business practices which would require the less utilization of natural capital (i.e., ecosystem goods and ecosystem services).

Finally, sustainable consumption involves changing the lifestyle of people that would make them less eco-efficient in their utilization of ecosystem goods (all taken from UNESCAP 2008a:4).

A Framework for Green Growth

South Korea is at the forefront in operationalizing and implementing strategies for GG since 2008 through its national economic development paradigm aptly called “Low-Carbon Green Growth” which seeks “to effectively address climate change and energy issues and promote sustainable development” (ROK 2010: 24) Its motto is: “as we go green – we generate money and jobs” (Woo 2009). Its green development framework has four elements, namely: (1) clean energy paradigm, (2) green technology as a new engine for growth, (3) improvement of the quality of life, and (4) green leadership (Woo 2009). Even though South Korea has just started with this new path for development, the world has taken cognizance of its successes so far. Hence, its strategies for GG might be worth emulating.

The clean energy paradigm aims to mitigate the effects of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gasses emissions that emanate from local industries and transportation; and the aggressive development of renewable sources of energy. This paradigm also aims to build resilient communities which can withstand climate change and man-made disasters through climate change adaptation, early warning system, the protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and ensuring food security.

The clean energy paradigm is supported by the development of green technologies. Government agencies and the business sector invest on green research and development (R & D), and in cooperation with academic institutions, develop green technologies that lessen the emissions of pollution and GHGs in the atmosphere. In the process, green jobs and small and medium-scale enterprises are created. Local eco-tax is utilized not only to stop pollution but also to generate funds for green R & D.

Improving the quality of life requires “green life revolution,” i.e., gradually reducing people’s heavy dependence on ecosystem goods and services to one that recycles and consumes less. Massive information and education campaigns on green living, whether on the road, at home, in offices/work places, in schools, or in recreational spaces, are to be undertaken to instigate this revolution.

Finally, to sustain GG, green leadership in the locality needs to be cultivated. Green leaders, among politicians and from the youth sector, must be trained on the essence of GG so that they could continue the gains of their cohorts or predecessors. These green leaders can be administratively supported by civil servants who have been oriented on GG strategies mentioned above, including the formulation and implementation of green public policies, socio-economic development plans, comprehensive land use plans; and finally, the sourcing and allocation of funds.

These four elements are interdependent – the improvement of the quality of people’s lives depend on the development of clean energy largely brought about by the use of green technology which are all supported by the political will of green leaders (see Figure 1).

References

Republic of Korea (2010). Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth.

UNESCAP (2008a). The Green Growth Approach for Climate Action (draft). Bangkok, Thailand: UNESCAP.

UNESCAP (2008b). Greening Growth in the Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand: UNESCAP.

Woo, Ki Jong (2009). “Creating Opportunities through Green Growth.” A PowerPoint presentation made at the 22nd General Assembly and Conference the Eastern Regional Organization on Public Administration (EROPA) on "Public Governance in Challenging Economic Times: Human Resource Development at the Battlefront" held in Seoul, Korea on 19-23 October 2009.