Home About IEF Conferences Newsletter Resources e-learning centre on sustainable development IEF SUSTAPEDIA AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SUSTAINABILITY

While proposals for more environmental economics have been around for some time, the collapse of the financial system in 2007-2008 brought calls that the funds being injected into the economy be used to create a new "green economy" to replace the old economy of unsustainable consumption. The green economy can be defined as an economic system that preserves and restores ecosystems, the backbones of economic and social wellbeing and essential for poverty reduction, while simultaneously creating new industries and employment. Environmental industries using clean and efficient technologies, and sustainable agriculture serve as major engines of wealth and job creation and poverty reduction. 

UNEP (2009) has identified the priority green economic sectors as:
- clean and efficient technologies, including renewable energy technologies and rural energy access;
- biodiversity-based businesses, including agriculture, forestry, marine, nature-based tourism, etc.;
- ecological infrastructure, including nature reserves, protected areas, watersheds, etc.;
- chemicals and waste management, including waste reduction, recycling and reuse; and
- low carbon cities, buildings and transport. 

Such an alternative economy would need to be more altruistic and cooperative, create adequate employment, and give major emphasis to reducing poverty in the world.