While South Africa is the second largest economy in Africa and has a relatively high GDP per capita, poverty, (youth) unemployment, inequality, food insecurity and environmental degradation are some of the greatest challenges faced by the country. Evidence shows that social and environmental enterprises that apply green and inclusive business models can play a significant role in addressing those challenges on the ground, and in turn, in achieving sustainable development. The National Sustainable Development Strategy highlighted the role of SMMEs, the informal sector and gender in a green economy in development. It is essential for policy makers to understand the impact of those enterprises and how their scale-up can be promoted through policy interventions. This report provides case studies in South Africa and highlights the social, economic and environmental impacts (Triple Bottom Line impacts) delivered by these enterprises, namely:
Growing financial, climate and social challenges in the Caribbean have sparked the search for new economic pathways that would better serve the region.
Green growth initiatives to date have often placed the economy and environment front and centre. However, for green growth to fulfil its promise, it needs to also focus on people and address systemic causes of poverty and social exclusion.
This paper evaluates the emerging green economy in South Africa, using ideas from the concept of sustainable rural livelihoods, which are intimately connected to ecological services many developing countries.