At least on the Day of June 5, we don't forget to utter one BIG word, “Green Economy”. And we are all aware that every year we celebrate June 5 as World Environment Day. Today aint #WED, so what, every day in fact must be environment day.
Let’s talk...
By the way what is green economy? On a tea talk within our department mates at college I causally raised a question what the green economy is? I got different responses from my mates and some blank stares too.
Lets make it simple green economy is an economy that achieves its economic objectives, while sustaining and protecting its natural resources and environment. But, every development activity has its own price, mainly in case of developing countries the burgeoning development comes with a heavy price in terms of natural resources impairment and environmental aggravation. So how can we keep the health of ours wallet sound side by side without jeopardizing the health of the ecosystem we dwell in is a burning question these days.
“A green economy is a not a nascent economy but more of an economic makeover which is more profitable, possible and sustainable in all means.”
“A Green Economy is about a global economy that recognizes the intergenerational responsibility of nations to hand over a healthy, functioning and productive planet to the young people of today and those yet to be born,” Pavan Sukhdev , head of UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative.
The Green Economy initiative has identified ten distinct sectors capable of propelling a low carbon, resource efficient, employment-generating future provided backed by investment and forward-looking policies. The ten different sectors being agriculture, buildings, energy, fisheries, forests, manufacturing, tourism, transport, water and waste management. Investments in green agriculture ranging from US $100-300 billion per year over 2010-2050 would lead over time to rising soil quality and increasing global yields for major crops, representing an improvement of 10% above what is possible with current investment strategies. Increased efficiency in agriculture, industrial and municipal sectors would reduce demand for water by about a fifth by 2050, as compared to projected trends, reducing pressure on groundwater and surface water in both the short and long term, Green Economy report states.
A green economy creates jobs and economic progress, while at the same time avoiding considerable downside risks such as the effects of climate change, greater water scarcity and the loss of ecosystem services. “The Green Economy provides a vital part of the answer of how to keep humanity’s ecological footprint within planetary boundaries. It aims to link the environmental imperatives for changing course to economic and social outcomes—in particular economic development, jobs and equity,” said Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP.
Environmental issues are a real public health issues these days. Water borne diseases along with airborne ones are a real threat of public health worldwide. “According to the World Bank, inhaling the kerosene lamp emission in unventilated huts of villages is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes in a single day, or 280 cigarettes a week.” This is grave. We gotta think lot more seriously about our economy and that economy being green or not!
Nepal, a developing country needs to think wiser in advance towards converting its economy into green economy before its too late. Agriculture and forestry along with fisheries being integral parts of national economy, government should come up with the policies to foster the greener part of economy. Tourism is another important sector country needs to be concerned about.
Hope Nepal thinks more seriously and makes some witty policies to foster the sound health of both wallet and economy.
