Scientific and Technological Community
Statement on Green Economy
(prepared - but unable to present – by Gisbert Glaser, International
Council for Science/ICSU)
2nd meeting of the Rio+20 Preparatory Committee
New York, 7 March 2012
Mr. Co-Chair,
Let me first address an overarching question. Yes, we urgently need the
transition to a Green Economy and to sustainable patterns of consumption and
production, as business-as-usual has not eradicated poverty and bears
unacceptable risks for the future.
We can agree with those who said we should not spend more time on definitions
as long as everybody agrees with the fundamentals: the Green Economy should
“emphasize environmentally sustainable economic progress to foster lowcarbon,
socially inclusive development” (ESCAP) and investment in green jobs,
clean technologies and green sectors.
We, in the scientific committee, believe as other speakers have also said, that
there is no such thing like a “one-size-fits-all” green economy“. It needs to be
country or sub -region specific. However, experience sharing at regional and
global levels will be crucial.
Mr. Chair, there will be no Green Economy without it being based on sound
science, including research and access to knowledge in the social and economic
sciences, nor without green technologies and technological innovation.
Consequently, in reply to the question “What specific investments should a
government prioritize?” we urge to include among the priority areas
investments in targeted scientific and technological capacity building, financing
green R& D, as well as developing and strengthening national and internatio nal
innovation systems. While technological innovations are important, we actually
need a more effective “global innovation system” for innovation policy
responses, policies which truly integrate the three pillars and promote societal
transformations.
No doubt, the private sector should also contribute to investments in science
and technology and R&D, and public private partnerships should be established.
Moreover, for the benefit of developing countries, North-South and South-
South targeted scientific and technological cooperation should be significantly
enhanced, as well as technical and financial support for national scientific and
technological capacity building.
Green economy policies need to be introduced in all relevant sectors of
economy, be it the agricultural sector, the chemical industry, or the IT sector.
This will require much enhanced policy coherence across sectors. And the issue
of policy coherence will have to be taken into account in reforming and
strengthening the institutional framework for sustainable development.
Finally, the green economy will not become implemented without the full
involvement of all relevant stakeholders, and Major Groups such as educators,
farmers, local authorities, workers and trade unions, indigenous people, in
addition to scientists and engineers.
Thank you.
