Why economies need to be both inclusive and sustainable
On 28 March 2017, the International Institute for Environment and Development hosted a Twitter chat – an online conversation – designed to stimulate international dialogue and debate around how to manage the transition to green and fair economies. Here's what happened:
- The Twitter chat was aimed at researchers, policymakers and businesses leaders, and the Green Economy Coalition, Development Alternatives, Plan International UK, and the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development joined forces to co-host the discussion.
- The online conversation was scheduled to coincide with the international ministerial conference of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), which was being held in Berlin. The PAGE conference brought together more than 300 ministers, heads of United Nations' agencies, thought leaders and representatives from civil society, business and media to discuss how to accelerate the shift to green investment and inclusive growth.
- Thanks to co-hosts @GECoalition, @CAFOD, @DAperspectives & @PlanUK, who will be offering their expertise & views in next hr #GreenmustbeFair https://twitter.com/IIED/status/846685804474748928 …
- Looking forward to today's discussion on why #GreenmustbeFair. Graham Gordon, CAFOD's head of policy, tweeting from @CAFODwire
- Let’s get started. We know economies need to be both inclusive & sustainable, but we want your views on 6 key questions... #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/1pALxkm50D
- So let the questions, and responses, begin...
- A1: we fight inequality by including the most marginalized groups in ongoing dialogue and joint policy-making #GreenmustbeFair (1/2)
- latest research shows most green economy plans have few opportunities for citizen engagement #GreenmustbeFair (2/2) http://cafod.org.uk/content/download/41075/466016/version/1/file/CF-Green_economy_leaflet_v4.pdf …
- A1: A clear understanding of what is happening to inequality -- many misconceptions about global vs national trends #greenmustbefair
- @IIED By ensuring that actions to reduce inequality (e.g. redistribution of wealth) lead to increasing “green” consumption #GreenmustbeFair
- A1: We first need to understand inequality – & from there how to measure it (1/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- A1: Only with strng policies to tackle inequality (health/education/sanitation) will we have solid foundations for #sustdev #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A1. #greenmustbefair 1. Bottom up approach to policy making 3. Good governance/ leadership 4. Market regulations/ access to finance
- A1: More #green #livelihoods in fly ash tech, waste to wealth. http://bit.ly/2nvT5S8 #enterpreneurship #GEVoices #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A.1 Fascinating insights via Min.of Env in South African #pageberlin about their green accord process involving CSOs #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A2: That losers of current economic system do not continue to be losers in a green economy i.e. leave no one behind #GreenmustbeFair
- A2: Inclusive #greengrowth agendas cannot afford to ignore the informal economy --> https://www.iied.org/iied-ministerial-green-economy-conference … #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/aKDsfoAyOj
- A2: the purpose of the economy needs to be focused on human and environmental well-being #GreenmustbeFair (1/3).
- A2: GDP growth is simply a measure of how fast it is moving – not where it is heading to #greenmustbefair (2/3) @IIED #pageberlin
- A2: Pope Francis challenges us to redefine what we mean by progress - and focus on people and planet #GreenmustbeFair #LaudatoSi (3/3)
- @CAFODwire A2: This AM heard a great example about Chinese reskilling 1 million workers from forestry into other industries #GreenmustbeFair
- @GECoalition Barbados also example of giving illegal miners 2 years guaranteed income to replant forests and retrain #GreenmustbeFair https://twitter.com/GECoalition/status/846691115692670976 …
- @CAFODwire And e.g. from Zambia where local builders are trained in green certifications so contracts can stay local #GreenmustbeFair @ilo
- @IIED A2: Key principle should be that the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden, need to protect poorest #GreenmustbeFair
- @equalitytrust @IIED A2: Then this means tackling unequal environmental impact e.g. lifestyle of 1% http://whygreeneconomy.org/inequality-of-overconsumption/ … #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED They are #sustainable #consumption & #production, #lifestyles, resource efficiency | http://bit.ly/2nqQg3i #GEVoices #GreenmustbeFair
- A2: Key principle shld be to not waste time reinventing, but replicate, adapt, collaborate! #GreenmustbeFair https://www.seed.uno/publications/white-papers/collaboration-for-impact-building-the-ecosystem-for-replication-support-services.html …
- A2: It starts with using positive language; building platforms to exchange; supporting self-organisation (1/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- A2: Also, design from the bottom up; use evidence; look beyond regulation. Download --> http://pubs.iied.org/16566IIED/ (2/2) #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/bUo1zZxmCG
- @IIED A2: Excluded groups (incl. informal sector) fully participate in design & implementation. See http://cafod.org.uk/content/download/41075/466016/version/1/file/CF-Green_economy_leaflet_v4.pdf … #GreenmustbeFair
- A2: A just transition needs to be planned - those who may lose out initially need opportunities for reskilling #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A3. Business always tell us that inequality isn't an issue they can / should deal with. That's for the state. Agree? #GreenmustbeFair
- +1 Imp point: #SDGs are everyone's responsibility--that's the #Universality principle #greenmustbefair #SDGsBiz https://twitter.com/gecoalition/status/846690630185205762 …
- @IIED A3: Fairness audit/monitoring should be a central part of green business practices #GreenmustbeFair
- A3: Business can invest in reskilling, focusing on youth and women who are often excluded #GreenmustbeFair
- A3: Businesses must extract fewer natural resources, reduce GHG emissions/create less waste. But at the same time... (1/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- A3: Businesses must support & empower world's poor: increasing opportunities & securing livelihoods (2/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- @GECoalition @IIED We've met some great biz who recognise their own roles & responsibilities in tackling #inequality #GreenmustbeFair
- A3: Businesses and Board Rooms need to be driven by values to promote the common good #GreenmustbeFair http://cafod.org.uk/content/download/21109/147151/version/3/file/Common%20Good%20and%20the%20Economy.pdf …
- A.3. Nice example of a fair and green business this morning @Fairphone -- transforming the value chain of mobile phones #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A3: #greenmustbefair won't ensure by themselves! 1. Strong state regulations for businesses 2. Civil society/consumers rights
- A3: Business must call time on fossil fuel development #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED Scale promotion that creates more jobs-like MSMEs, esp in big businesses' value chains. #GreenmustbeFair
- A.4 That some policy makers believe that inclusion willl slow down green growth... #greenmustbefair
- @GECoalition ... so key to convince gov for green growth to take hold it has to be relevant / provide opportunities for all #Greenmustbefair
- @GECoalition that's exactly the reason why deliberations have to be locally-rooted and include voices of #BoP #Greenmustbefair
- A4: Ministries of Economy, Environment, Agriculture etc need coordinated policy-making to avoid conflicting policies #GreenmustbeFair
- A4: TBL impacts need to be recognised more in addition to economic impacts as tangible results #greenmustbefair
- A4: Many barriers still there, but also support from several orgs at dif. dev. stages! https://www.seed.uno/publications/policy-insights/2436.html … #GreenmustbeFair
- A4: The East African food economy is worth US$175 billion & most of the production & value chain is in the informal sector #GreenmustbeFair
- A4: Colombia’s waste pickers are 1 example of a successful pathway to inclusion & sustainability: https://www.slideshare.net/IIEDslides/a-different-approach-to-policy … #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/WiHV6NrJ0g
- @IIED A4: Main emphasis is on #greenjobs. A lot more is needed on specifically targeting the poorest and most marginalised #GreenmustbeFair
- A4: Waiting for the silver-bullet is pointless. We have to fail forward and keep prototyping to uncover fitting solutions! #GreenmustbeFair
- A4: We need a different policy approach that enables informal workers to effectively negotiate & engage in policy processes #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/pD6BSYsadp
- A4: Bottom-up approaches bring in local expertise and should be taken into account more. #Replicate what works! #greenmustbefair
- A4: Use pos impact acct'g, eg @CapInstitute regen economics, #futurefit https://twitter.com/iied/status/846690334293733377 … #greenmustbefair https://twitter.com/iied/status/846690334293733377 …
- @IIED A5: Replication & Training of Trainers can scale up quickly, capacity building and technology are also important for #greenmustbefair
- A5: useful resources from Just Transition Centre on transition focused on decent, green jobs #GreenmustbeFair #JustTransiton
- A5: Innovative approaches, visions, models & tools are evolving worldwide according to countries’ priorities (1/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- A5: We must be ready to share each other's learning, knowledge & leadership. South-South cooperation will be crucial (2/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A5 Policy prototyping as an approach will be featured at #SEEDSAS17 http://www.seed.uno/seedsas17/ #greenmustbefair
- A5: This Forest Connect toolkit shows local timber businesses how to assess & manage risks --> http://pubs.iied.org/13583IIED/ #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/iatCckSzVn
- A5: This helps businesses to grow & create jobs in the community - while offer guidance on sustainable use of forests/land #GreenmustbeFair https://twitter.com/IIED/status/846695915893260288 …
- @IIED traditional knowledge, practices| at the same time #innovations to reuse what the current economy calls #waste http://bit.ly/2nqG9v3
- #iied #GreenmustbeFair A5: SDG's 17 steps look promising! There is no silver bullet! 1. Country need-based tools need development.
- A5: The Shaping Sustainable Markets site is full of useful resources on sustainability & much more… https://shapingsustainablemarkets.iied.org/category/information … #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/FceLg7jrjL
- REPORT: @CAFODwire finds that most national green economy plans make little mention of poor people https://goo.gl/5TbUo0 #GreenmustbeFair pic.twitter.com/dQ0w2z9OYl
- A6: We have to work on improved handshake points in the support system to provide best service to final beneficiaries #GreenmustbeFair
- #greenmustbefair @IIED @hivos A6: #sustainablediets food lab collaborates 4 green growth in food system read more: http://bit.ly/2nqA5D4
- A6: Discussions on green growth must move beyond abatement curves towards economic reform #greenmustbefair
- A6: Need national level dialogues that bring #SDGs #Climate and #GreenEconomy decisions together #GreenmustbeFair #PageBerlin
- A6: Learn lessons from the informal sector in driving the transition to a green economy --> https://www.iied.org/lessons-informal-sector … #GreenmustbeFair
- @IIED A6: Build the ecosystem via partnerships, networking, replication and providing insights for policymakers #greenmustbefair
- @IIED build #research+advocacy partnerships, strengthen networks, promote knowledge sharing! http://map-sa.net (1/2) #GreenmustbeFair
- #greenmustbefair #iied A6: 1.Knowledge platform and engagement frameworks
- A6: Strengthen evidence: gather evidence, inc. examples of successful public & private initiatives to improve understanding #greenmustbefair
- A6. Watch what some of our experts in the @GECoalition would say to the G20 about #GreenmustbeFair https://goo.gl/DNbQWo
- A6: Support communities to map key stakeholders so they can identify who to negotiate with for supportive policies/services #GreenmustbeFair
- A6 Collaborate w/ future food leaders #GreenmustbeFair. How? Read our changemakers guide http://bit.ly/2nvWSiv @IIED @FeliaBoe
- A6 #greenmustbefair: via collaboration & networking events like #SEEDSAS17 :) http://www.seed.uno/seedsas17/ @IIED
- Over the course of an hour, there were more than 200 tweets sharing views, knowledge and valuable resources on how to manage the transition to green and fair economies.
- That's it! Huge thanks to our co-hosts+everyone who joined today's #GreenmustbeFair Twitter chat. Hope you found the views/resources useful
- Many of the participants in the Twitter chat, including the Green Economy Coalition, IIED, CAFOD, SEED, Development Alternatives, and the Equality Trust, also drafted an open letter to all governments on the issue of inequality and sustainability. The letter calls for governments to recognise and respond to the issue of inequality in their green growth plans and economic policies.
- As part of the @GECoalition, we've signed this important letter because we feel very strongly that #GreenmustbeFair http://ow.ly/TJkW30al6iu
- Civil society calls on governments to make the green transition a fair one https://goo.gl/GXXJ5G #pageberlin #GEvoices #greenmustbefair pic.twitter.com/UZ588mRNlT
