A clear priority for many developed and developing economies is the need for innovation, productivity, and
secure jobs. While different stakeholders might have varying needs, there is an overall need for higher
productivity and efficiency, stronger resilience and innovation.
Green economy offers vast opportunities in eradicating poverty as well as sustaining economic growth, which is
of particular concern for the countries in the Global South, as well as enhancing social inclusion, improving
human welfare, creating opportunities for employment and decent work for all, while maintaining the healthy
functioning of the Earth’s ecosystems.
On the other hand, failure to take a timely action in walking away from unsustainable economic practices
threatens to potentially lead to environmental degradation that can have serious negative implications on future
human health and welfare, and our entire ecosystem. A number of environmental systems are being pushed
beyond sustainable limits through, for example, loss of biodiversity, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, land use
change, and climate change.
