Framing green growth and
sustainable development
Story of Chicken: Case Study in Thailand
This scenery is very common
in Thailand!!!
Global context of Green Growth
• Green growth is economic growth that is
environmentally sustainable (WB, 2012)
• Enhances the
quality of
growth
• End goal is to
operationalize
sustainable
development
Figure from PovertyEnvironment Partnership
2012.
Regional context of Green Growth
Asia's policy makers must pursue inclusive
and green growth simultaneously if they wish
their people to enjoy the fruits of sustainable
growth. There is no trade off. (ADB, 2012)
The developing world is growing fast
Fastest-growing countries are in developing world
What factors are pushing growth
in developing regions?
• improved governance with growing democratic
accountability and reduced conflict
• discovery and exploitation of minerals and oil and
gas deposits
• attracted investors as last bastions of growth
• gains of Asian prosperity spread to Africa with
China as leading investment partner
• “brain-drain” to “brain-gain” as expatriates return
And the quality of current economic growth
is neither inclusive nor sustainable
• growth is heavily dependent on either a
resources boom which cannot last forever or
exports to a shrinking developed world
• GDP growth drivers do not create the most jobs,
leading to jobless growth
• 50% of Africa’s population are without access to
energy, other basic infrastructures and services;
likely exacerbated by climate change impacts
• much of Asia has no access to basic services,
poverty is still prevalent, and environmental
quality is rapidly degrading.
Sustainability pressures in developing countries
Determinant
Trend
Characteristic
Population
increasing
High fertility rates, especially among less educated and
poor populations; but the overall rate of population growth
is predicted to decrease in the mid-term future.
Economy
Increasing
High GDP growth rates per year; mainly from agriculture
and natural resources exploitation.
Rural-urban
migration
Increasing
Many young people move to cities to seek employment
opportunities; rural areas drained of youth, reducing social
vitality; urban lifestyles are energy and resource intensive.
Consumer-class
Increasing
The so-called ‘good life’ typified by media images of
western-style consumerism now define the lifestyles of the
consumer class and aspirations of the poor.
Market
pressure
Increasing
Innovative ways of stimulating consumption, such as
aggressive advertising, credit card use, consumer loans, and
rebates after purchase are on the rise.
Poverty
Variable , but absolute
numbers not declining
Developing world is home to most of the world’s total poor.
They predominantly live in slums in cities and in rural areas
(unsustainable livelihoods).
Adverse impacts of climate change
(Photo: WB)
• threat to human life, health, livelihood, food security
• drags development growth, drives the cycle of poverty
• increases overall risks and vulnerability
Green growth represents an iterative process
leading towards a green economy
BAU
GG
Source: Sperling, 2012.
NOTE:
• GG pathway tailored to
development circumstances
• Near term: more focus on
managing local priorities
• Consider irreversible
consequences with long
term impacts
We cannot afford to “grow now,
clean up later”
Number of haze days/yr in different cities in China
Photo: Fan Meng