Green Economy

Adults & Seniors

by LearnX Sustainability

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Playlist: Five Things to Know about the Green Economy

We round up the main points about the green economy to get you quickly up to speed on this concept that is integral to achieving sustainable development while balancing environmental needs.

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Explaining the Circular Economy: Rethink Progress
A key principle of the green economy is circulatory, which is about keeping products and materials in continued use. This video explains how circulatory works and highlights how it can be implemented. Source: Explaining the Circular Economy: Rethink Progress (2011, August 29). Ted. Retrieved 2021, October 16.


Working Together to Grow a Green Economy
Another principle of the green economy is collaboration. This video showcases ways of working together by highlighting initiatives from Ethiopia.

Source: Working Together to Grow a Green Economy (2016, November 9). World Bank. Retrieved 2021, October 13.


Forests: The Heart of the Green Economy
Nature and the economy are interconnected with protection of nature vital to enable the transition to a green economy.

Source: Forests: The Heart of the Green Economy (2013, June 18). UN Enrichment Programme. Retrieved 2021, October 12.


Green Economy: Singapore Green Plan 2030
The green economy is one of five key pillars under Singapore’s Green Plan. Find out what this entails and how it will be implemented.

Source: Green Economy: Singapore Green Plan 2030 (2021, Feb 10). Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. Retrieved 2021, September 25.


Changing Tides: A Sustainable Blue Economy
A related concept to the green economy is the blue economy which is about managing the ocean’s role as a food supply source and enabler of global trade in a way that is sustainable.

Source: Changing Tides: A Sustainable Blue Economy (2021, Nov 28). UN Environment Programme. Retrieved 2021, September 16.


Learning Package: Green Economy

It’s common to think that sustainability and economic growth are mutually exclusive, thinking that one will compromise the other. However, economies globally are realising that developing the Green Economy could provide a competitive edge in economic opportunities while advancing sustainability and society’s welfare.</a>1 <p>As one of the key pillars of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a whole-of-nation movement to advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development2 developing a Green Economy in Singapore refers to seeking green growth to create new jobs, transform industries and harness sustainability as a competitive advantage3.</p>

In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive economic activities, infrastructure, and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.4

In the Green Plan, Singapore’s key targets are to Introduce an Enterprise Sustainability Programme, Create business and job opportunities, Be a leading centre for Green Finance in Asia and globally and to Promote homegrown innovation under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Plan 2025.3

As the global awareness for sustainability efforts increase, more corporations are heading towards more sustainable business models.

Did you know...

In 2015, Amsterdam become one of the world’s first circular cities.5 They were also the first city to get a circular city scan, in collaboration with Circle Economy6, which identifies those areas where the most significant, tangible progress in realizing a circular economy can be achieved7. Through the circular city scan, they found out that both the food and the construction sector had large circular potential, with potentially high economic and environmental impact.

Amsterdam’s approach to a circular economy is focused on 3 value chains8.

  • Food and organic waste streams
  • Consumer goods
  • Built environment

Singapore, however, is not too far behind. Through policies to encourage sustainable production and consumption, such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)9, Singapore has begun to embrace the circular economy approach in several areas.

On top of having almost all our construction waste and metals recycled, Singapore has also managed to close the water loop. This is possible through Singapore’s ability to endlessly recycle water, enabling it to be reused indefinitely! This has allowed Singapore to reintroduce up to almost 800,000 m3 of ultra-pure recycled water into our system each day 10.

 
<h4>Videos</h4>
1. What is a Green Economy?

Still confused about how the green economy works? Get started in understanding its advantages and how the green economy differs from our current economic model here! Still confused about how the green economy works? Get started in understanding its advantages and how the green economy differs from our current economic model here!

Source: What is a Green Economy? (2020, July 6). Greenpeace UK. Retrieved 2021, September 15

2. How to Get Everyone to Care about a Green Economy

Watch this video to gather tips on how to convince people about the Green Economy.

Source: How to get everyone to care about a green economy (2019, December 21). TED. Retrieved 2021, October 16

Website

UN Environment Programme

Explore the site to read about the green economy on a global scale and the transition to economies that are low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

eBooks

1. Greening the global economy

Robert Polin (2020), Greening the global economy, New York: The MIT Press.

you're not listening

All too frequently, inaction on climate change is blamed on its potential harm to the economy. This book shows greening the economy is not only possible but necessary: global economic growth depends on it.

Borrow the eBook here.

Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibraryid is required to access the eBook).

2. The Sustainable City

Steven Cohen (2021), The Sustainable City, New York: The MIT Press.

Book cover for The Sustainable City

Lost on how to embrace sustainability in an urban city? The Sustainable City synthesizes the disparate strands of sustainable city planning in an approachable and applicable guide that highlights how these issues touch our lives on a daily basis, whether the transportation we take, where our energy comes from, or what becomes of our food waste. Providing recommendations and insights with immediacy and relevance, this book has invaluable lessons for anyone seeking to link public policy to promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

Borrow the eBook here.

Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibraryid is required to access the eBook).

3. Tomorrow's economy: A guide to creating healthy green growth

Per Espen Stoknes (2021), Tomorrow’s economy: A guide to creating healthy green growth, New York: The MIT Press.
you're not listening

How does the economy and climate change intertwine? Giving real examples and tactics to ensure a business, individual, or institution is moving towards healthy, green, growth and limiting its impacts on climate change, Tomorrow’s economy: A guide to creating healthy green growth reframes the hot-button issue of economic growth.

Borrow the eBook here.

Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibraryid is required to access the eBook).

Sustainability Programmes in NLB

Sustainability talks and workshops are always happening in the library. Browse through go.gov.sg/sustainprog to find the right one for you!

References

  1. Hardcastle, D. & Mattios, G. (2021, January 28). Southeast Asia's Green Economy: Pathway to full potential. Bain. Retrieved 2021, October 1 from https://www.bain.com/insights/southeast-asias-green-economy-pathway-to-full-potential/
  2. Singapore green plan 2030. (2021). Singapore Green Plan 2030. Retrieved 2021, October 1 from https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/
  3. Green economy | UNEP - UN environment programme. (2021). UN Environment Programme. Retrieved 2021, September 28 from https://www.unep.org/regions/asia-and-pacific/regional-initiatives/supporting-resource-efficiency/green-economy
  4. Developing a roadmap for the First Circular City: Amsterdam. Circle Economy. Retrieved 2021, October 21 from https://www.circle-economy.com/resources/developing-a-roadmap-for-the-first-circular-city-amsterdam
  5. Amsterdam: Adding the doughnut to the circular economy. (2021, February 3). Circular City Funding Guide. Retrieved 2021, October 21 from https://www.circularcityfundingguide.eu/case-studies/amsterdam-adding-the-doughnut-to-the-circular-economy
  6. Mijatovic, S. (2016, May 26). Circle City Scan of the City of Amsterdam. Amsterdam Smart City. Retrieved 2021, October 21 from https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/updates/project/circle-scan-amsterdam
  7. Policy: Circular economy. City of Amsterdam. Retrieved 2021, October 21 from https://www.amsterdam.nl/en/policy/sustainability/circular-economy/
  8. Circular economy. Towards Zero Waste Singapore. Retrieved 2021, October 21 from https://www.towardszerowaste.gov.sg/circular-economy
  9. What is circular economy? Towards Zero Waste Singapore. Retrieved 2021, October 21 from https://www.towardszerowaste.gov.sg/zero-waste-masterplan/chapter2/circular-economy/