The Importance of Defining the Green Economy
By: Angie Knowles
August 12, 2011 - Enter the search term “green economy” these days and one can expect a barrage of articles on everything from policy debates to remarkable technological breakthroughs. Perhaps as a by-product of this popularity, the concept of the green economy is often clouded by considerable ambiguity and confusion. Many of the discussions about green economic growth are hindered by the lack of a consistent, shared idea of what the green economy encompasses.
In recognition of the intensifying need for a clear definition of the green economy, the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada has initiated a series of studies. This research contributes to ECO Canada’s objective to develop programs that help individuals build meaningful environmental careers, provide employers with resources to find and keep the best environmental practitioners, and inform educators and governments of employment trends to ensure the ongoing prosperity of this growing sector.
Defining the Green Economy was the first in ECO Canada’s research series dedicated to an informed discussion about the green economy. This exciting initiative featured numerous interviews with prominent industry representatives and a survey of over 400 Canadian organizations engaged in sustainable activities. A central goal of the project was to develop a definition of the green economy and of green jobs that is concise, practical and relevant.
Based on this approach, the report arrived at a definition of the green economy as “the aggregate of all activity operating with the primary intention of reducing conventional levels of resource consumption, decreasing harmful emissions, and minimizing environmental impact. The green economy encompasses all the inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes involved in the production of green products and services.”
Several major considerations guided the direction of Defining the Green Economy. One key factor was the importance of partnership and information-sharing opportunities between organizations representing diverse interests. In order for a description of the green economy to be accurate and relevant, it must be grounded in ongoing discussions between industry members, government and academia. Consequently, an essential element of the project involved establishing strong relationships with such respected organizations as the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) and the Globe Foundation.
Another observation from the study was the need to further test a working definition of green economic activity. As a result, Defining the Green Economy has led to a second study: Developing Canada’s Green Economy. In this new project, we are working to refine the definitional criteria from the first study, create a definitional model to classify green economic activity, and prepare an initial profile of current green occupations and industries in Canada.
The findings from ECO Canada’s current study will provide crucial insight into the Canadian green economy, including labour supply and demand, required skills, and the scope of employment.
As evidenced in recent media, there is no better time to establish a shared, meaningful language and logic for Canada’s green economy.
