Greene Economics, LLC’s Post

Traditional approaches, such as quantitative modeling and economic instruments in New Zealand, similar to other developed countries, remain important but are insufficient on their own to achieve sustainability transitions. A deeper understanding of complex societal systems—such as interactions, lock-ins, and feedback loops that shape sustainability outcomes, social acceptance, and political feasibility—is essential. In New Zealand, there is an outstanding gap in the literature on sustainability transitions, particularly regarding how transitions and visions should be governed within the country’s specific context. While there is a growing body of research on the technical feasibility of transitions, the socio-political dimensions remain significantly understudied. The EEA Report on Sustainability Transitions: Policy and Practice, authored by leading scholars in the field, offers valuable insights and guidance for New Zealand policymakers, political parties, businesses, and civil society to navigate and accelerate the transition process. https://lnkd.in/gsRkBPg8

Can we achieve prosperity without sacrificing environmental sustainability? In my recent article with Green Network Asia, I delve into how the restorative economic approach aims to repair the damage caused by extractive activities, offering a pathway to a more habitable Earth. With over 178 million hectares of forest lost and billions facing water scarcity, the need for a shift in economic thinking is urgent. Unlike the traditional GDP model, the restorative economy emphasizes recovery, collective action, and transforming our relationship with nature. Studies from Cambridge Econometrics show that investing in environmental restoration not only benefits the planet but also yields long-term financial and social returns. To make this vision a reality, governments must commit resources and work together with all stakeholders. Read the full article to explore this crucial shift in economic thinking: https://lnkd.in/dWdXUmZ7 P.S. A special thanks to Irhan Prabasukma for his simple yet deeply meaningful illustration.

🎉 New Publication 🎉 I’m excited to share that my article, "Is Economic Development Really Becoming Sustainable?", is now published Open Access with Taylor & Francis Online. The paper critically examines how current economic models address sustainable development, arguing for the integration of social and ecological dimensions into economic frameworks. It also explores the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of a circular economy. #Sustainability #EconomicDevelopment

Ignoring environmental sustainability is no longer an option if nations wish to remain competitive in the global economy, and traditional, carbon-intensive economic models used by now-rich countries are not viable for the future. This Cambridge Element by Amir Lebdioui discusses the need for new, innovative approaches to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic development. Read it here: https://go.unu.edu/F1e5b #SustainableDevelopment #GreenEconomy Cambridge University Press

🌍 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 Successful sustainable development projects focus on these essential elements to create a lasting impact: 1. Environmental Sustainability 🌱 2. Economic Sustainability 💼 3. Social Sustainability 👥 4. Public-Private Partnerships 🤝 5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer 📚 These elements work together to ensure that projects not only protect the environment but also promote economic growth and social equity. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eBqN7Svy #Sustainability #GreenDevelopment #EnvironmentalImpact #InclusiveGrowth #Partnerships #Education #SustainableDevelopmentProject

The 11th r3.0 International (online) Conference 'Tipping Points on Tipping Points - Building Necessary Collapse Resilience' on September 10/11 has four main themes, each with extraordinary speakers. Session 2, called ‘Municipalities & Bioregions: Place-Based Collapse Resilience.’ 2024 marks a conscious shift for r3.0 into a primary focus on place-based engagement, specifically at the nested scales of municipalities and bioregions, as these represent the most promising contexts for navigating collapse with resilience. This session focuses on the systemic innovations that communities are seeding to ruggedize in the context of increasing complexity and potential crashes. Ting Pan will lead off sharing the story of how the City of Nanaimo drafted a sustainability Monitoring Strategy by applying a context-based approach to developing thresholds-based performance indicators — a deliberate choice that sets it apart from the incrementalism often found in target and indicator development but instead adheres to the authenticity of the Doughnut Economics concept Get your ticket at https://lnkd.in/e8QSWjVX and be with us for all 4 conference topics, discussed on September 10/11 online.

The 11th r3.0 International (online) Conference 'Tipping Points on Tipping Points - Building Necessary Collapse Resilience' on September 10/11 has four main themes, each with extraordinary speakers. Session 2, called ‘Municipalities & Bioregions: Place-Based Collapse Resilience.’ 2024 marks a conscious shift for r3.0 into a primary focus on place-based engagement, specifically at the nested scales of municipalities and bioregions, as these represent the most promising contexts for navigating collapse with resilience. This session focuses on the systemic innovations that communities are seeding to ruggedize in the context of increasing complexity and potential crashes. Ting Pan will lead off sharing the story of how the City of Nanaimo drafted a sustainability Monitoring Strategy by applying a context-based approach to developing thresholds-based performance indicators — a deliberate choice that sets it apart from the incrementalism often found in target and indicator development but instead adheres to the authenticity of the Doughnut Economics concept. Get your ticket at https://lnkd.in/e8QSWjVX and be with us for all 4 conference topics, discussed on September 10/11 online.

Grateful to contribute to the conversation with passionate and creative leaders across the country. I learned so much from my time in rural fund development. When COVID hit, flexible, responsive, community-centered capital was an immediate necessity--not a far-off future solution. There was truly no time for the lackluster "Yeah, it would-be-nice, but unfortunately, it's not the way things are..." conversations I often hear in these spaces. The undeniable global event pushed us to pilot and prove a model that focused on relationships, trust and effectively adopting technology to truly be flexible to immediate and emergent needs. Many incredible funders stepped up to provide support, resources, connections that allowed my organization to provide critical PPE and other resources to remote communities, quickly adapt training and TA to be delivered remotely and financially support the recovery of small businesses and community services, ultimately impacting hundreds of thousands of rural community members. We were able to do so because our staff were already living and working in and with the communities served and had built relationships on the ground with the communities directly. When we looked at the outcomes, we discovered that we were able to serve more diverse populations to access the critical resources they needed there and then than we had historically. We used that to imagine how fewer restrictions could allow us to follow the needs, as identified and elevated by the communities we partnered with... rather than the funders who oversaw the funds from a distance. The communities we served through our affordable housing programming may have a need for environmental training and TA and would benefit from support to build out their economic development to tap into the local community brilliance. Often, there is a need affordable financing to support those goals. A funder narrowly focused on a single issue or output puts pressure on the organizations and communities they fund to be singularly focused on reporting on that one output, with no regard to emerging and/or evolving needs. This can often result in the missed opportunity to develop intersectional solutions to intersectional problems with the communities themselves. Two Audre Lorde quotes come to mind: 1. “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we do not lead single-issue lives.” 2. “If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” I am always, always interested in working together!

Green Economy and Sustainable Development Vision, Concept and Applications Book link on Amazon Self-Publishing: https://lnkd.in/diEWrCuN The current global trend revolves around reevaluating the foundations of development for nations by focusing on the evolving challenges faced by populations. This includes the exacerbation of unemployment, rising poverty rates because of climate change, successive financial crises, and the ensuing food crises. It's a time to confront these crises by reconsidering the fundamental pillars that support economic growth and the developmental policies associated with it across various nations. This unequivocally underscores the imperative to advance concepts related to what it termed the "Green Economy." This is one of the most crucial means to ease the spread of poverty and achieve sustainable development, as per the definition put forth by the United Nations Environment Programme, which states that "the green economy is an economy that leads to the improvement of human well-being and the long-term reduction of inequality, without exposing future generations to important environmental risks and ecological scarcity." The significance of the green economy lies in its essential role in establishing a connection between sustainable development, encompassing economic, social, and environmental facets. It facilitates a positive transition in the requisite processes of production, patterns of consumption, waste, and pollution management. It aids in controlling the reckless utilization of natural resources, energy sources, and the ensuing emissions. The ultimate aim is to transform all these elements into a more efficient and diversified economy, preserving the environment and fostering the creation of dignified employment opportunities for successive generations worldwide. It works towards promoting sustainable trade, curbing the prevalence of poverty, enhancing levels of social justice, and ensuring a fair distribution of income. Several reasons support the adoption of the green economy in sustainable development, especially in emerging economies (developing countries).

Sustainable Policies: The Blueprint for Thriving Economies. Policies Are the Seeds of Progress Not all policies are created equal. Some build foundations for growth, while others dig holes for economies to collapse into. Sustainable policies stand apart as the blueprint for long-term success, balancing economic development, environmental health, and social well-being. What Are Sustainable Policies, Really? At their core, sustainable policies focus on the big picture—ensuring progress without sacrificing future stability. They’re not driven by fleeting ideologies or political agendas but by a commitment to outcomes that work for both the present and the future. Sustainable policies are like well-designed ecosystems. Just as nature seeks balance, so too must effective policies. They work by harmonizing competing priorities—economic growth, resource management, and societal needs—ensuring one doesn’t outpace or undermine the others. This holistic approach makes them both logical and necessary. How Sustainable Policies Work: The key to sustainable policies lies in their adaptability and focus on measurable outcomes. Instead of dictating rigid rules, they create frameworks that encourage innovation and efficiency. For instance, instead of penalizing industries for carbon emissions, a sustainable policy might incentivize recycling adoption, creating a win-win scenario for businesses and the environment. Sustainable policies also embrace long-term thinking. They don’t just address immediate challenges but anticipate future trends and risks, ensuring resilience over time. This is particularly important in a world shaped by rapid technological advancement, resource constraints, and global interconnectedness. Why They Matter Now: In countries like South Africa, the need for sustainable policies has never been greater. Current approaches often prioritize ideology over logic, resulting in economic stagnation and declining investor confidence. Shifting toward sustainable policies could unlock growth, attract investment, and build a future where businesses, people, and the planet thrive together. Sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about ensuring that our policies today don’t destroy our opportunities tomorrow. It’s time to move beyond short-term thinking and start planting seeds for lasting progress. #SustainablePolicies #FutureProofLeadership #PolicyMatters #EconomicBalance #GrowthAndSustainability #InnovativeGovernance #PolicyReform #ResilientEconomies #LogicalLeadership #ThrivingFutures