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Opinion | Six balancing acts for the world to achieve sustainable, green development
- Business as usual with a coat of green paint is not enough to ensure the survival of future generations
- Moving to a green economy is a process full of vision, value, cooperation and hard work that can turn creative destruction into creative construction
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Why you can trust SCMP
Go green before green goes. Otherwise, the “green swan” – a devastating climate event with far-reaching social, economic and financial impact – is likely to shock humanity in a disruptive way, much like its cousin the “black swan”. Climate change is real and the challenges are too severe to be ignored, even temporarily.
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The core of climate risk mitigation lies in transitioning from a brown economy to a green one. A brown economy prioritises economic performance over environmental capacity. Its self-reinforcing nature requires a dramatic correction and reconstruction.
According to the Banque de France, a business-as-usual approach could see climate change cut global GDP by 12 per cent through to 2100. Therefore, a green economy is essential and a more sustainable substitute.
A green economy, according to the UN Environment Programme, is one that brings about improved human well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcity.
A green economy is not about “greenwashing” – disguising carbon emissions under a coat of green paint – or “greenflation”, or striving for green goals without any budgetary constraints. Going green in both heart and deed is required.
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Six relationships need to be balanced to achieve sustainable, green development. First, there is balancing sustainable development and geopolitical competition.
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