We continue to draw from nature’s goods and services – the assets that support economic growth – far beyond the ability of these assets to supply them sustainably. Directing and mobilizing capital for the protection and proliferation of the underlying ecosystems is integral to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, thereby ensuring greater social equity and economic security.
A financing ecosystem supported by data flows that capture the sustainability performances of companies and supply chains is needed to drive investments towards green growth and achieving the SDGs.
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When COVID-19 began to spread around the world, it brought with it many uncertainties. But one thing was quickly clear: the depth of the economic and social crisis was going to require massive government intervention to rescue jobs and livelihoods, and to reinvigorate economic growth.
An introductory learning companion, launched by the United Nations Environment Programme, provides learners of all types with up-to-date resources to better understand the connections between trade, environment and development.
It’s been a long and challenging year, one in which we have learned to communicate virtually, linked by our screens to the outside world. And this is only for those fortunate enough to work from home. Then there are those on the frontlines of the struggle with COVID-1, risking their lives to keep the wheels of civilization turning, while others have been forced to migrate away from their homes and life as they knew it.
The circular economy proposes a profoundly different model leading to growth and jobs without compromising the environment.
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India’s 2021-2022 budget lays a strong foundation for a sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery, but more funds need to be allocated to fight climate change.
"The only chance of reaching the 2030 and 2050 global climate goals is to deploy all possible measures possible to defy the business-as-usual scenario. This is where natural resources management, and the circular economy, as an important instrument, comes into play," said Janez Potocnik, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel, and Julia Okatz, Associate at SYSTEMIQ.
Technological change is a crucial aspect for achieving the green economy and fostering green growth, with open source software promoting collaboration in urban centres to solve climate change and resource scarcity challenges.
Efforts are being made globally to tackle food waste, but more needs to be done to ensure that the market is in tune to environmental impacts. Digital solutions can help open doors for food market transformation and drive sustainability.