SEOUL/LONDON – May 26, 2016 – A new report published today by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) calls on development stakeholders to pursue environmentally sustainable, economic growth that is pro-poor and socially inclusive.
Though development agendas emphasize the importance of achieving economic growth that maintains environmental sustainability, policies that effectively address poverty and social exclusion also need to be prioritized and implemented.
“Growth, even if it is green, cannot be sustainable unless it adequately addresses poverty and social exclusion in an integrated and systemic way,” said Inhee Chung, Senior Sustainability and Safeguards Specialist, GGGI. “Green growth can only lead to transformative and sustainable change if it is pro-poor and delivers benefits to the most marginalized and vulnerable social groups.”
The publication of the Pro-Poor, Inclusive Green Growth: Experience and a New Agenda report aims to support decision makers develop and implement policies that simultaneously achieve economic growth, environmental sustainability, poverty reduction and social inclusion.
The report demonstrates how green growth can address some of the drivers of poverty and social exclusion, and stresses the importance of strengthening institutional and governance structures in order for green growth strategies to be effective and respond to people’s needs.
“While progress toward greener and more inclusive growth has been achieved, delivering the benefits of green growth at scale and to all stakeholders has been hampered by weak governance structures, policy incoherence and institutional silos,” said Steve Bass, Senior Associate, IIED. “To overcome these challenges and deliver at scale stakeholders such as poor, vulnerable social groups and small, informal businesses must be included.”
To enhance inclusion and deliver pro-poor, green growth the report puts forth policy options and recommendations to produce outcomes that: enable governance frameworks that are inclusive, integrated and transformative; empower poor women and men through enhanced livelihoods, rights and capital assets; make green options accessible through inclusive financing mechanisms; deliver metrics for inclusive green growth that reinforce target outcomes in planning and monitoring.
To further discussion and generate buy-in for green growth that reduces poverty and is socially inclusive, GGGI, IIED and GEC will present the report findings at the Poverty Environment Partnership meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh on May 31, 2016.
The Green Growth Knowledge Platform will also organize a webinar on June 8, engaging the report authors and online participants in discussion on ways to make pro-poor, inclusive green growth a reality.
About GGGI
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote green growth. The organization partners with countries to help them build economies that grow strongly, are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. To learn more about GGGI, see https://gggi.org and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
About IIED
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a policy and action research organization. We promote sustainable development to improve livelihoods and protect the environments on which these livelihoods are built. We specialize in linking local priorities to global challenges. IIED is based in London and works in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific, with some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We work with them to strengthen their voice in the decision-making arenas that affect them — from village councils to international conventions. www.iied.org
About GEC
Established in 2009, the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) is the world’s only civil society-led multi-stakeholder group working together on green economy. The GEC is made up of think-tanks, environmental and development NGOs, trade unions, businesses, campaign organizations and UN bodies. The GEC vision is one of resilient economies that provide a better quality of life for all within the ecological limits of the planet. The GEC mission is to accelerate the transition to these new green economies. www.greeneconomycoalition.org
Contact Information
Mr. Thomas Nielsen
Poverty and Social Inclusion Adviser
GGGI
M: +82 10 9530 9960
Mr. Steve Bass
Senior Associate
IIED
Emily Benson
GEC
Programme Manager