Author : Achim Steiner
Date : November 21, 2008
During the past two months we have seen Governments commit more than USD 3000 billion towards stabilizing financial markets. A further USD 2000 billion have already been announced for economic stimulus packages. Never in the history of humankind has so much money been allocated with so little preparation and strategic analyses
Paradigms about the role of the state, the effective functioning of markets or economic policy which have been propagated for the past two decades as certainties equivalent to the laws of physics have been abandoned almost overnight. Historians and scholars will no doubt spend years assessing the validity of these emergency responses to the crisis in our financial markets. However, as societies confronted by multiple challenges today (eg. food security, poverty reduction, energy security, climate change, environmental degradation) we do not have the luxury of addressing these challenges with hindsight. We have just mortgaged our capacity both nationally and globally to address these challenges by appropriating in excess of USD 5000 billion for coping with a financial crises and pre-empting a potentially even more dramatic economic crises.
In seeking to remind ourselves that the other crises cited above have neither subsided and that the costs of leaving them unattended will by far exceed the costs of our current predicaments in the financial markets, we are not suggesting a trade-off. The concept of a Global Green New Deal and the broader agenda of accelerating a transition towards a Green Economy is an attempt to engineer a win-win strategy. We simply cannot afford to limit the financial and economic rescue packages to the current narrowly conceived and emergency driven agenda. The attached paper suggests a number of key elements which have the potential to achieve multiple benefits - liquidity, economic stimulus, job creation, energy efficiency and diversification as well as scaling up global efforts to move towards a low-carbon economy.
It is imperative that these elements become not only part of the public policy discourse about the current crisis but are also embraced and further articulated by the financial institutions and architects of our international financial system.
A global Green New Deal is not an alternative answer to the current rescue efforts for our financial system. But it should become a key building bloc in determining the strategy and priorities for how we can ensure that USD5,000 billion plus are not simply expended like water to put out a fire. We must find more intelligent ways to invest these resources to address multiple challenges. Otherwise there will simply be no money left for investing in the drivers for a low carbon, energy efficient and less polluting economy which can generate tomorrow's jobs and livelihoods for nine billion people.
Achim Steiner
Listen to Mr. Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, Podcast on the "Global Green New Deal"
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Date : December 14, 2010 08:54
Dear Mr Achim Steiner
Could you please give short article about Cancun -Mexico Conference about climate change just finished .
Vietnam will apply in 2012 policy payback to forest's environment . We would connect it to Global scheme ?
Any links of this activity to Global net work ?
Here is new .
Apply policy “ payback to forest’s environment”
( Gov –Portal 13/12/2010 ) – Pri-minister approved the Project “Apply Decision 99/2010/ND-CP date 24/9/2010 about policy payback to forest’s environment
In 2011, project carries the IEC activities about payback to forest’s environment policy
People committee of province and big city will approved projects in local level
Since 2012 organizations and companies will pay fee
Ministry of Agricultural and Rural development is focal point for project implementation .The project will have branch in provincial levels
In nghidinh 99/2010/ND-CP date 24/9/2010, 5 organizations have to pay the environment’s fee
1-Hydro- electricity station
2- Fresh water supply
3- Forest’s services
4- Industrial company use water
5- Forest’s services create carbon and use water ( like sea food production )
Hoang Dien
S&T by CThN
Thank you
Date : August 13, 2010 05:32
To All project’s managers in Vietnam
Because of hot development and limited knowledge about value of environment to the Health.
In would like informs to you that Vietnam will taking part in the Global project about environment.
Any suggestions , any requests please send to Ministry of Natural resources and Environment Email : “ baotainguyenmoitruong @gmail.com “
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Viet nam will take part in the Global project “Bio-cycle services in the earth“
(Gov –Portal 12/8/2010 ) : Pri –minister have decision agree that Vietnam will taking Part in the Global project “ Bio-cycle services in the earth “ , it will be support by GEF through management of UNNEP
The Ministry of Natural Science and Environment is focal point in collaboration with UNEP full fill the project and expanding it in Vietnam
The study of UNEP in Environment day 5/6 show that the economic growth can be increasing by Green economy
Director of U NEP Achim Steiner inform that the investment to Bio-cycle not only for economic growth but this is good for population.
Giavi
S& T by CThN
Date : June 4, 2010 06:19
Dear participants
Every day I hear in Television and read in newspaper : the mining without payback to environment badly impact to the people life .
This morning I read that the Iron ore mining in Thai nguyen made big hole in the fields . It made house is broken and , people lost land for planting .
In Kontum, Cao bang and some mountain area the gold mining with chemical so water in river is polluted : fish died,plants died and pollute drinking water .
Halong BAY - famous place now is polluted by water out of Industrial facrories .
Forest is destroyed.
SAD .
Date : May 25, 2010 14:54
Dear All,
Good day!
Green technology is now buzzword of new generation technocrats. In my opinion, many of the so called green technologies are not so green. A rational approach needs to be taken and judicious methodology needs to be applied while branding green technology. We should remember that hardcore business is involved while branding a technology green. This is assuming more importance in this era when corporate social responsibility is also occupying prime position in the society.
Thanks and regards,
Pradip Dey
Date : May 20, 2010 05:00
Dear participants in the FORUM
Many rivers in Vietnam are polluted by water out from Industrial zone : Fish died
Many lakes in Hanoi polluted by water out : Fish died.
The hydro electricity stations take water and chance the flows of water .
If you came to invest to Vietnam : please do not forget fee for environment protection
We worry .
Date : November 11, 2009 17:48
Solar cell parks.are not the only solution.
For example google with its fondation wants to create enhanced geothermal systems ( http://www.google.org/rec.html ).
Date : November 7, 2009 15:10
Until recently I would have totally agreed with any proposal to extend solar cell parks. However in the summer I read an article in the New York Times which highlighted a fundamental problem with solar energy as developed so far..........the problem is that solar energy in general and solar cell parks in particular use up an excessive amount of water. As a result, such parks have a limited usefulness in that they create water crises in their locations. At the moment, solar energy is used to heat water, to convert to steam, to generate electricity. It is necessary for solar parks to be placed in locations of maximum sun, which means little rainfall, deserts. Such solar cell parks can only have global impact if they use little or no water in the generation of energy. I wish to propose that the UN must sponsor solar cell designs that are sun dependent, not water dependent.[ see my website: www.kelvynrichards.com: Social Ecology]
Date : November 6, 2009 11:45
To all participants in the FORUM
This time -in Vietnam STROMs and FLOODs .It happen continuously .
We all know that one of the reasons is forest is destroyed in high mountain .It lead to the problem : land can't keep water and floods .
People take woods and to do the funiture from woods for exports
We still don't have the rules of origin of wood like fishery in EU .
Even it too later, but please think about RADA for forest control in ASEAN and rules for trading goods made from woods .
Terrible !
Date : June 7, 2009 16:24
Dear Mr. Steiner,
my comment is specifically related to the travel & tourism industry.
I have been working in the travel sector for more than 20 years I am still surprised by the lack of concern but even more by the necessary legislative framework to encourage but more importantly set a mandated structure to protect our environment. There should be tangible deliverables each supplier and individual traveler has to commit to when traveling.
Last year I worked on a Green Business Travel Project together with the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). The objective was to provide companies, and the public sector, with a toolkit on the ecological aspects of planning and taking business trips. Checklists and a cost calculator identify those areas in which travel practices can be made more environmentally friendly, as well as enable them to estimate expenses. The toolkit also contains practical green measures that can be taken by a company in the areas of organization and administration, fleet management, choosing means of transportation and accommodation.
Another - related to all sectors - obvious and immediate action could be to encourage and incentivize global energy efficiency processes, products and services. This would stretch the resources available and have a positive impact on our environment. In addition, by taking these steps, it could also positively influence a company's bottom line, an important consideration during the current economic situation. One means is by implementing standards for appliances and equipment. Internal and External Balance scorecards should be mandatory reflecting environmental deliverables, audits should be conducted for e.g. buildings, and higher-efficiency lighting, cooling and heating systems installed in them. Households and companies need to be called upon for direct action which can be triggered by incentives based on energy efficient consumption. As for the transport sector, the financial aspect may be a burden as higher costs may occur for building and redesigning means of transportation. However, incentives here could support in tackling the monetary requirements and ultimately result in a positive effect on the environment.
I look forward to hearing you opinion and thoughts,
Kind regards,
Christine Dunton-Tinnus
Date : June 2, 2009 02:26
Hi,
I think there are a few issues that decrease the chances of creating a greener global economy:
1) the economy leaders are exponents of the fossil fuel industry; they do not allow us (new energy technology providers) to have a say. They push forward only the "green" projects that are not really green and that cannot really compete with their fossil fuels.
2) it is a huge birocracy with very reduced competency that has hijaked the green action and information channels and decrease if not destroy most of the time the chances of good info to surface and good action to take place
3) the actual colour of many in the above birocracy is not really green
There would be other bitter true facts but I stop here. My opinions have been formed over the past 5 years since we tried to ofer to the world a new really clean technology, certified by the best Australian scientific body. Our new technology is both green and more economical than fossil fuels technologies. Details at www.q-solar.com.
Our Australian government does not want to hear about it, (because Queensland is the greatest exporter of coal in the world?)... This is the first renewable technology that is more economical than fossil fuels, and can by itself reduce the use of fossil fuels by an average of 10%. Still we are supressed and not allowed to deliver it to the world because the proper channels (including media) are not as free as it is generally believed.
It would be a suitable oportunity for it to be made known (if mr Achim Steiner agrees) at the Brisbane Greenfest Environment Day where he will be an onorary guest. May I say that this technology has been developed in Brisbane?
Date : January 20, 2009 17:48
I am intriqued by the facts that more than 80% of the global wealth is controlled by less than 10% of the world's population; that more than 5.9 billion people are trying to live on less than $10 a day.
And in the last 3 months, as you say, we have witnessed thousands of billions of dollars/pounds being given to the richest corporations [representing the very people who had gambled and lost the money in the first place] as a compensation for their fecklessness and as an attempt to prevent them going bankrupt.
I wonder as to whether this crisis is one that effects only those rich? The 10.1 million $ millionnaires. Does it really matter to all those who have no savings and no capital and no jobs? the poor majority!
I think that the financial losses and compensation will matter because it means that there will be no payments nor loans to support a Green economy, nor any programmes to alleviate the poor.
We live in a world where the top priority is to alleviate the losses of the very rich.....and damn the poor!
for a more analytical discussion of these issues please go to www.kelvynrichards.com 'Social Ecology - a new morality'
Date : January 15, 2009 22:25
California's state legislature is currently considering the elimination of funding for public transit! This will cause a much greater negative impact on the economy over the long term and it is a huge step backwards in all regards.
This ongoing madness must be reversed if we are to sustain life as well as survive the financial crisis.
Date : January 5, 2009 07:21
Dear Achim Steiner,
I have long been an advocate of a green economy - and economy based on common crustal elements and biomass materials; one where goods are made sustainably from natural, common materials for the most part, and minimizing the need for high-risk resources and processes.
Looking at things from an efficiency perspective, I have converted several old homes into new, efficient ones, and have increased their energy efficiency by a factor of 5 or more. Doing some calculations, I came to realize how incredibly inefficient we in the industrialized world are, and how choosing safer materials from stem to stern can save lives and the health of workers wherever the production facilities may be. Having worked in several industrial plants in our area, I can attest to the exposure problems to many of our modern chemicals and by-products, and it is this externality which we need to include in the whole picture, so anyone - whether they live in Viet Nam or the United States, will not suffer for the need to produce goods.
I have also began to wonder about a proposal some time ago to install and use solar power to pump water from the ocean and desalinate it if necessary in order to grow bountiful crops in the desert. Has anything significant been done in the this manner? Thanks for the paper on a Global Green New Deal - perhaps we are on the cusp of realizing a dream of a world where common resources will bring up the standard of living for everyone, while simultaneously lowering pollution and stress levels. It seems perfectly attainable; the opportunities great, if we apply ourselves. Thanks for reassuring me there are people in the world working on making this a reality!
Date : December 29, 2008 11:16
Dear Bas de Groot,
Your suggestion is indeed intriguing and worthy of detailed consideration.
In a UNEP report published in June 2006 entitled Global Deserts Outlook http://www.unep.org/geo/gdoutlook/ we flagged up the solar power potential of desert regions and indeed as you may be aware some companies are actively looking into and promoting such developments.
Some experts have suggested that surplus energy could be used to manufacturer hydrogen which could be piped out to other economies or power desalination plants for producing freshwater.
UNEP is keen to monitor such developments as among the ideas and actions that need urgent consideration for a sustainable 21st century.
Regards,
Achim Steiner
Date : December 26, 2008 11:33
Dear Mr. Steiner,
Thank you for your paper, it was very enlightening.
As a modest yet practical idea, would it be possible to encourage developed countries to build solar cell parks in less-developed countries, preferably around the Sahara, and donate parts of these parks as a form of development aid? Local people could be trained to maintain and repair the parks; developed countries would receive a steady supply of energy, whilst less-developed countries that are right now importing electricity would be less dependent on foreign energy-supply, thus reducing their annual national expenses.
Would such an idea be viable in your opinion?
Kind regards,
Bas de Groot
IJsselstein, the Netherlands
Date : November 23, 2008 13:51
To Mr Achim Steiner
The financial crisis leads to inflation in Vietnam .The government apply the urgent methods to prevent inflation : the interest rate in Banking system increasing to 18 % and the rate for credit to 21 % .
All enterprices difficult to get credit with high rate .Now government allow reduce it to 11- 12% for interest rate and 15 to 18% fro credit rate .
Now we are facing the unemployment and social stability.
The mistake in approved FDI create aslo unemployment . Enterprices pollute environment will be close because the Rivers died,air is duty and water is duty .
We forget the environment factor is very important factor in assesement of the projects .
We agree the life in Vietnam will related with changing in the Global level . We follow the information. We agree that support should gives liquidity, economic stimulus, job creation, energy efficiency and diversification as well as scaling up global efforts to move towards a low-carbon economy.
We seek the way to go out crisis .
Thank you
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