The green
economy (GE) is a new concept that needs implementation at regional and
community level in the Himalayan region for sustainable development and
environmental governance. Each
country
recognized the value and potential of GE, interpreting it as leading to “increased human well being
and social equity with reduced environmental risks and ecological degradation”.
To
put the strategies into action,
it
would require increased investment by national and global agencies in creating
green jobs through green infrastructure projects. Institutional reforms and
enabling policies, supported by regional cooperation and knowledge sharing are
also needed to create incentives for integrated agriculture and natural
resource management and to promote enterprise development. Green economy in the
region has to be developed
on a strong natural resource base - water, biodiversity, forests, and clean
energy sources. These resources need to be managed as public goods using
principles of good governance and equity, and involving local communities in
accounting for the full value of ecosystem goods and services. Economy is of
importance for all and sundry but the growing environmental destruction and
disparity between the rich and poor demands adoption of cleaner and better path
so as to secure the future resources and achieve sustainable development with
better social inclusion. In this regard, the term ‘green economy’ came into
light.
UNEP
defines a green economy as one that results in “improved human well-being and
social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological
scarcities”. In its simplest expression, a green economy is low-carbon,
resource efficient, and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in
income and employment are driven by public and private investments that reduce
carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and
prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services a green economy as based
on six main sectors
- · Renewable energy
- · Green buildings
- · Sustainable transport
- · Water management
- · Waste management
- · Land management
Mountain
ecosystems provide a vast array of goods and services to humanity, both to
people living in the mountains and to people living outside mountains.
They
are an important source of vital ecosystem services on which the regional and
global environments and global economy largely depend and harbor a wide range
of important natural resources. They make important contributions to economic
development, environmental protection, ecological sustainability and human
welfare, as well as to economic and ecological resilience in the downstream
regions. About half of the world’s population depends on mountains for fresh
water, clean energy, irrigation water, flood control, minerals, timber and
non-timber forest products, recreation, and genetic resources. Mountains are
also home to more than a billion people, a substantial proportion of who are
indigenous ethnic communities whose livelihoods largely depend on natural
resources available in mountain areas. Mountains are also a source of cultural,
spiritual, and recreational resources for urban populations.
In Himalayan
Country (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and
Pakistan), green economy for environmental governance is still in a developing
stage and faces a lot of challenges. Eco tourism more often combines elements
of wildlife conservation, cultural awareness, education, recreation and
adventure. Eco-tourism, therefore, is gaining importance as a tool for
conservation. Increasing importance has been given to the integration of
environment and economic development in policy-planning process. However particular in case of Indian
Himalayan region, data deficiency clearly affects the policy making process.
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