The outcome document for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 includes a chapter on green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Whilst not a strong chapter, it is significant as it is the first reference to green economy in the outcome document of a major UN summit. The chapter helps to frame the green economy concepts, identifying a range of principles for applying the concept in a way that achieves sustainable development and contributes to poverty eradication. Importantly, the document invites the UN system, in cooperation with relevant donors and international organisations, to coordinate a number of green economy deliverables relating to tools, best practices, methodologies and platforms that can assist with green economy capacity building.
This summary was prepared by the Division for Sustainable Development, UNDESA.
This report serves as a starting point to address the calls from Rio+20 and the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council to share the South’s various experiences and national-level initiatives for transitioning to sustainable and socially inclusive economies.
In 2013, following the UNEP Governing Council Decision and with the support of the government of China, UNEP began work to share the South’s various experiences and national-level initiatives for transitioning to sustainable and socially inclusive economies.