Mainstreaming green economy into sustainable development policy frameworks in SADC

Abstract

In the lead to Rio+20, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) provided provocative insights into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) position on green economy and sustainable development. UNECA (2012, p. 66) concluded that in the SADC context, “the green economy cannot be discussed in isolation from the current debates on climate change mitigation and adaptation, including impacts on economic growth and poverty alleviation”. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how SADC is mainstreaming green economy to enhance sustainable development and poverty eradication. The main findings are that SADC started this process in 2011 through the Green Guide initiative for Parliamentarians and the 2013 call to develop a Green Economy Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Development. The paper concludes that since other member states are ahead of SADC, co-leadership is needed between SADC and member states to share experiences in shaping the green economy transition agenda.