Green growth aims to pursue economic growth while preventing environmental degradation. It is a more operational concept than sustainable development. Key challenges in Asia and the Pacific region include inefficient resource use and converging environmental issues. ADB's strategic directions to promote green growth include supporting clean, low-carbon infrastructure, improving natural resource management of threatened ecosystems, and building environmental governance capabilities.

1. Green Growth: ADB Perspectives Mark Kunzer Regional and Sustainable Development Department 17th July 2011

2. Outline What is Green Growth? Key Challenges in the Asia and Pacific Region ADB's strategic directions to promote green growth

3. Some definitions “sustainable development “ is development which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Report, 1987) “green economy” is one that “results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing risks and ecological scarcities (UNEP, 2008) “green growth” can be seen as “a way to pursue economic growth and development, while preventing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable resource use” (OECD, 2009) ”environmentally sustainable growth” is a generic term (as used in ADB’s Strategy 2020, 2008)

4. Some Features potentially a more operational concept than broader “sustainable development” consistent with “environmentally sustainable development” first and foremost about economic growth albeit one that is decoupled from environmental degradation climate change as a more central consideration, with heavy emphasis on low carbon economies proponents argue it can de delivered at “little or no cost”, investment in environment can be profitable, and can support economic recovery and job creation

5. Key Challenges in the Asia and Pacific Region Resource use & efficiency *Key Materials: metal ores, industrial minerals, fossil fuels, construction minerals, and biomass Source: CSIRO and UNEP Asia-Pacific Material Flow Database

6. Key Challenges in the Asia and Pacific Region Convergent issues

7. Outlook UNEP’s Resource Efficiency: Economics and Outlook for Asia and the Pacific report (REEO) Two novel models of economy and resource use in Asia Pacific Simulate the years 2010 & 2050

8. Outlook Scenarios Business as usual – marginal improvements Resource efficiency scenario – large scale efficiency changes Systems innovation – transitions to new infrastructure and lifestyle changes

9. Source: UNEP (2011) Outlook

11. Environmentally sustainable growth

14. Sustainable transport

15. Livable cities

17. Building sound environmental governance and management capabilities Green tax and budget reform is needed (e.g. carbon taxes, levies on non-renewable energy and virgin materials, landfill fees) Removing distorting subsidies should probably be at the top of the agenda.

18. Conclusions Asia’s century?