By Peter Orengo
A Global Ministerial Environment forum kicked off in Nairobi with a call to governments to adopt the Green Economy in an effort to confront global depression.
The forum that brings together Environmental ministers from around the world comes when the globe faces oil scarcity coupled with less food and a financial meltdown.
A new United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) report released on Monday underlines how environmental investment could get economies back to sustainable work.
It underscores the need for policy actions to stimulate recovery.
The report, A Global Green New Deal, commissioned on behalf of Unep, was written by Prof Edward Barbier of the University of Wyoming and findings presented to ministers at the forum.
To power the global economy out of recession, Sh197.5 trillion worth of stimulus packages should be invested on ‘greening’ the world economy. An estimated Sh6 trillion of investment, the report says, could trigger multiple and potentially transformational returns.
Over dependency on fossil fuel, including oil and gas, is cited as a major contributor to economic distress and environmental problems.
gas emisions
The Global Green Deal would cut down on carbon dependency while reducing green house gas emissions. It will also reduce degradation of ecosystems and tackle water scarcity.
UN Undersecretary-General and Unep Director Achim Steiner said the report should be an anti-dote to the current woes.
"It represents opportunity to move towards innovation, with employment prospect for people." Steiner said.
Kenya is sited for having a significant Green Economy due to her efforts to harness hydro electing energy from geothermal.
