In response to recommendations from the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) launched the Green Economy Toolbox in 2013. The toolbox provides good practices for policies on greening the economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. This practical tool provides information and guidance on the green economy and offers numerous UNECE products.
“The strength of the UNECE Green Economy Toolbox is twofold”, says Monika Linn, Director and Principal Advisor to the UNECE Executive Secretary, “firstly, it brings together all tools, guidelines and publications from our different areas of work in one place. Secondly, it allows different users, for example from governments, businesses, academia or elsewhere, to search for the particular tool they need.”
By offering access to UNECE guidelines and policy recommendations on environmental protection, energy, education, finance, housing, innovation, standards or transport, this toolbox is assisting in the transition to a green economy. Since its launch, the Green Economy Toolbox has compiled over 80 green growth tools and resources, which have been accessed by approximately 100 nations. UNECE regularly updates this data by adding new content and exploring synergies with other platforms and tools covering additional topics.
The UNECE Green Economy Toolbox allows its users to search by recipient, purpose, sector or category. It offers tools for different stakeholders, such as governments, businesses, academia, and non-governmental organizations. It also allows queries for different purposes, such as environmental protection, social inclusiveness and economic development, as well as sectors, such as energy, housing, health, finance, forest, transport or industry. Lastly, the toolbox contains different categories of tools, such as on legislation, norms and standards, training and measurement. By offering a wide variety of practical guidance to various stakeholders, the Green Economy Tool Box is helping to realize a greener and more sustainable future.
The UNECE Green Economy Toolbox can be accessed at: http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/GET/