What does “green economy” actually mean? (Stockholm Resilience)

Interview with Chee Yoke Ling (Co-director Third World Network) / September 2011

In this interview Chee Yoke Ling explains the different perspectives on the green economy ahead of the Rio+20 meeting. She outlines some of the concerns and fears of developing countries.

These include that a green economy could potentially affect their prospects for economic growth and could lead to conditionality on aid from developed countries. For example she says there is the possibility of developed countries imposing green protectionist measures on products produced in developing countries that have not been made using clean technologies.

In her opinion the European Union (in particular Germany) and the Republic of Korea are pushing for a green economy by arguing sustainable development had not been fully implemented. The goal of sustainable development (with its focus on three equally balanced pillars: social, environmental, economic) was the main outcome of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and has influenced policies around the world for the last 20 years.

She argues there is nothing wrong in principle with the green economy but that it should not replace the holistic vision of sustainable development.

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This summary was prepared by Why Green Economy?. The views expressed have been paraphrased. See the original source for more information.