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Benson, David, Fairbrass, Jenny M. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5292-0720, Lorenzoni, Irene, O’Riordan, Tim and Russel, Duncan
(2021)
The Green Economy:Changing Meanings in a Changing World.
In:
Emerging Governance of a Green Economy.
Cambridge University Press, pp. 14-33.
ISBN 9781108490436
Abstract
The term ‘green economy’ re-emerged over a decade ago as a buzzword in notably inconclusive discussions across the globe amongst politicians, civil servants, business, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community interest groups, the media and academics. By offering the possibility of integrating economic priorities with more ecologically sensitive and socially just forms of overall progress, the concept of a green economy outwardly seems to provide some guidance and direction for achieving long-term sustainability across a range of tiers of governance and different types of economy. We argue that the notion of a green economy remains elusive and is deeply disputed, often poorly understood and unevenly applied. Hence, it is in danger of remaining both unworkable and marginalised. This chapter traces the development of the concept, not only in Europe but beyond, in order to provide context for the deliberations in Europe. The chapter also outlines contemporary debates, and identifies emerging themes in order to argue that the idea of a green economy, as currently practiced, requires urgent rethinking and application. This chapter also furnishes background for the remainder of this edited volume, in which European case studies are presented that grapple with definitional issues and the practical challenges of implementation.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Publisher Copyright: © Cambridge University Press 2021. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | green economy,green new deal,inequality,job creation,prosperity,sustainable development,wellbeing,general social sciences,general environmental science,general energy,sdg 8 - decent work and economic growth ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3300 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Aug 2026 09:37 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Aug 2026 10:19 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104062 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/9781108780933.003 |
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