Countries around the globe, including some in the Caribbean, are taking steps to move toward a “low-carbon,” more environmentally sustainable future, which could generate considerable economic opportunity, a recently published United Nations report stated.
The 626-page Towards a Green Economy report released last week by the UN Environment Programme found that both developing and developed countries are accelerating investment in alternative energy, conservation and waste reduction projects. This trend, if it continues, could enhance economic growth, according to the UNEP.
“The report shows that investing the equivalent of two percent of global [gross domestic product] into agriculture, energy, buildings, water, forestry, fisheries, manufacturing, waste, tourism and transport would not only shift the global economy onto a more sustainable growth trajectory, but it would actually maintain or increase growth over time compared to the current business-as-usual scenario,” the report stated.
See the Nov. 24, 2011 edition for full coverage.