Post-Rio to Post-2015 Background Paper: Green economies for sustainable development

Green Economy was identified as “an important tool for achieving sustainable development,” and Section III of the Rio Declaration has several important features which firmly establish green economy as an important and central driver of sustainability. Key elements of the agreed text include paragraph 59 viewing “the implementation of green economy policies by countries that seek to apply them for the transition towards sustainable development as a common undertaking;” and paragraph 64 which notes the “positive experiences in some countries, including in developing countries, in adopting green economy policies in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication through an inclusive approach and welcome the voluntary exchange of experiences as well as capacity building.”