By
Damian Daga
Published 6th June, 2012 in The Voice Newspaper.
When the world first celebrated the World Environment Day in 1973, it was a mile stone event geared towards increasing public awareness on the importance of the environment. For factual purposes, there wouldn't be a world without the environment and a healthy and clean one for that matter. The day as implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) holds every year's 5th June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. The day which is similar to Earth Day opens avenues for discussions and concerted actions towards reclaiming the earth and preventing or correcting degradation and other activities that gradually destroy the earth.
As the world yesterday celebrated the environment in this year's (2012) event, the show of undiluted love and need to reinvigorate our actions towards a better environment for sustainable development was aptly covered by the theme: Green Economy: Does it include you? This brings some pertinent questions to the fore.
According to UNEP, Green Economy, which commonly refers to the alternative and more sustainable way of doing business in the world, aims at an improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. So to say, green economy could be considered as an economic environment that achieves low carbon emissions, resource efficiency and at the same time is socially inclusive.
The initiative of green economy came to the front burner in late 2008. With green economy in place, it is envisioned that the provision of comprehensive and practical working machinery, through scrutiny and policy support for investing in green sectors and in greening environmental unfriendly sectors would be achieved.
In practical terms, green economy gives rise to growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, there needs to be a melting point for these investments with support by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.
By and large, green economy most times seems complex for the common man in as much as it concerns him, which brings up the pertinent question from the 2012 WED theme; what does green economy mean to you? Literary, as much as Green Economy is about social equity and inclusiveness, then technically and practically, it is all about you, you and definitely us all.
Regrettably, here in Nigeria, the emphasis of green economy is yet to make firm grounds, save for Cross Rivers State, which has made bold moves to save her rainforest and in return, has benefited from carbon credit in the REDD++ programme.
Although one may ask why all the fuss about green economy, without recourse to the benefits in terms of environment and other options for sustainability, investing in green economy also creates multitudes of jobs. Needless to emphasise, jobs generation enhances economic growth in any country.
Little wonder, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, at the last World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland, advocated for a shift to a Green Economy. In his words; “we mined our way to growth, we burnt our way to prosperity. We believe in consumption without consequences. Those days are gone. In the 21st Century, supplies are running short and global thermostat is running high.”
True to type, by 2008, over 2.3 million people in six leading countries in green jobs, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Spain, and the United States, were employed in this low-carbon sector. It is in this regard that it is worthy of note that the Green Economy is not just a passing environmental craze but rather, one of the best solutions available for sustainable economic growth with recognition of the social factor.
The time for switching to a green economy is now as we celebrate WED so as to make a global move to low-carbon economy while creating avenues for millions could be lifted from poverty. That is why the Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner, stated thus: “The findings underline that (the green economy) can include millions more people in terms of overcoming poverty and delivering improved livelihoods for this and future generations. It is a positive message of opportunity in a troubled world of challenges.” This happenstance would enable the world to emerge into a new world order from what obtains today whereby, the industrial revolution and technology plus other obnoxious human practices have led to climate change.
Nigeria too has to embrace the Green Economy by investing in green industries, renewable energies, waste management and clean technologies that will ultimately lead to economic growth and little damage to the ecosystem.
Furthermore, what better period is there to work towards sustainable development than now, with Rio+20 around the corner? It is anticipated that this year's WED theme: Green Economy: Does it include you? Will influence deliberation at the environmental conference and countries such as Nigeria and the developed world, will work out modalities on targets and agreements to assist halt environmental degradation around the world.
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