Green economy definitions: recent trends and developments

This chapter reflects on developments and recent trends in green economy definitions. Some issues around defining the green economy have remained constant; there is a continued ambiguity in how the concept is used, and there continues to be significant overlap with green growth concepts. In these ways, the green economy continues to evade efforts to define it with precision. However, the green economy is still an important concept in research, policy, and practice, having featured in the policies of a number of countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South-Eastern Asia. In the future, the green economy could play several roles, including as an ‘umbrella’ concept to guide policy and practice to consider nature and the economy together, ensuring that climate action (including net zero commitments) does not ignore broader consequences for nature, well-being, and equity, and helping to align policymaking at different levels.