Green economy: concept and challenges for developing countries

The concept of the green economy has emerged from the field of environmental economics to become increasingly influential in government policy and decision-making over the last few years (United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), 2011a). This is due in part to the global economic crisis. Added to this is the likelihood that the world's population will reach nine billion by 2050 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2011). Their water, energy and food needs will place the planet's resources under immense pressure.