This paper reports on results of the study entitled
“Green economy: Measuring sustainable welfare using SEEA data”. It contributes to
measuring the progress towards a green economy and to making it accessible for
policymaking in Germany. The concept used to measure the green economy looks at
six dimensions: 1) use
of natural resources and environmental damage caused, 2) natural capital, 3) environmental quality of life, 4) green economy: Economic dimension
and fields of action, 5)
policies: Institutional framework and measures, and 6) background information on economic and social
development. For each dimension the concept includes indicators. The concept
fulfils two main purposes: Firstly, it is designed to monitor progress towards
a green economy ex-post and secondly some of the proposed indicators can be
used to assess policy options ex-ante. Scenario analysis (PANTA RHEI model) is
used to apply the concept to Germany’s energy transition. Many indicators will
improve until 2030 despite some trade-offs.
References
[1]
Rockstrom, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, A., Chapin, F.S., Lambin, E.F., Lenton, T.M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H.J., Nykvist, B., de Wit, C.A., Hughes, T., van der Leeuw, S., Rodhe, H., Sorlin, S., Snyder, P.K., Costanza, R., Svedin, U., Falkenmark, M., Karlberg, L., Corell, R.W., Fabry, V.J., Hansen, J., Walker, B., Liverman, D., Richardson, K., Crutzen, P. and Foley, J.A. (2009) A Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Nature, 461, 472-475. https://doi.org/10.1038/461472a
[2]
Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockstrom, J., Cornell, S.E., et al. (2015) Planetary Boundaries: Guiding Human Development on a Changing Planet. Science, 347, 6223. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855
[3]
Bina, O. and La Camera, F. (2011) Promise and Shortcomings of a Green Turn in Recent Policy Responses to the “Double Crisis”. Ecological Economics, 70, 2308-2316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.06.021
[4]
German Federal Statistical Office (2013) Test of the OECD set of Green Growth Indicators in Germany. Wiesbaden.
[5]
Hertwich, E.G. and Peters, G.P. (2009) Carbon Footprint of Nations: A Global, Trade-Linked Analysis. Environmental Science & Technology, 43, 6414-6420.
https://doi.org/10.1021/es803496a
[6]
Wiedmann, T., Schandl, H., Lenzen, M., Moran, D., Suh, S., West, J. and Kanemotoc, K. (2013) The Material Footprint of Nations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112, 6271-6276.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1220362110
[7]
UNEP (2011) Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication.
[8]
Brockington, D. (2011) A Radically Conservative Vision? The Challenge of UNEP’s towards a Green Economy. Development and Change, 43, 409-422.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2011.01750.x
[9]
Barbier E.B. (2012) The Green Economy Post Rio+20. Science, 338, 887-888.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1227360
[10]
Bina, O. (2013) The Green Economy and Sustainable Development: An Uneasy Balance? Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 31, 1023-1047.
https://doi.org/10.1068/c1310j
[11]
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) (2012) Green Economy. New Impetus for Sustainability, Berlin.
[12]
Loiseau, E., Saikku, L., Antikainen, R., Droste, N., Hansjürgens, B., Pitkanen, K., Leskinen, P. Kuikman, P. and Thomsen M. (2016) Green Economy and Related Concepts: An Overview. Journal of Cleaner Production, 139, 361-371.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.024
[13]
World Bank (2011) The Changing Wealth of Nations: Measuring Sustainable Development in the New Millennium, Environment and Development.
[14]
OECD (2011a) Towards Green Growth.
http://www.oecd.org/greengrowth/48224539.pdf
[15]
Lutz, C., Zieschank, R. and Drosdowski, T. (2015) Green Economy: Nachhaltige Wohlfahrt Messbar Machen unter Nutzung der umweltokonomischen Gesamtrechnungs-(UGR) Daten. Umweltbundesamt Texte 69.
[16]
Bosello, F., Portale, E., Campagnolo, L., Eboli, F. and Parrado, R. (2011) Sustainability Index Analysis, FP7 ENV 2007.1—WP6: Costs of Sustainability (General Equilibrium Analysis)—Deliverable 6.5.
[17]
OECD (2011b) Towards Green Growth: Monitoring Progress: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing.
[18]
Statistics Netherlands (2011) Green Growth in the Netherlands. The Hague/ Heerlen.
http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/macro-economie/ publicaties/publicaties/archief/2011/2011-green-growth-pub.htm
[19]
Stiglitz, J., Sen, A. and Fitoussi, J.-P. (2009) Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress. Paris.
[20]
Jager, C.C., Paroussos, L., Mangalagiu, D., Kupers, R., Mandel, A. and Tabara, J.D. (2011) A New Growth Path for Europe—Generating Prosperity and Jobs in the Low-Carbon Economy. Synthesis Report, Potsdam.
[21]
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEM) (2011) Environmental Impacts of Swiss Consumption and Production. A Combination of Input-Output Analysis with Life Cycle Assessment. Bern.
[22]
Diefenbacher, H., Zieschank, R., Held, B. and Rodenhauser, D. (2013) NWI 2.0—Executive Summary. Heidelberg and Berlin.
[23]
Daly, H.E. and Cobb, J.B. (1994) For the Common Good: Redirecting the Economy toward Community, the Environment, and a Sustainable Future. 2nd Edition, Beacon Press, Boston.
[24]
Kubiszewski, I., Costanza, R., Franco, C., Lawn, P., Talberth, J., Jackson, T. and Aylmer, C. (2014) Beyond GDP: Measuring and Achieving Global Genuine Progress. Ecological Economics, 93, 57-68.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2013.04.019
[25]
TEEB Report (2010) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Ecological and Economic Foundations. London.
[26]
Ahlert, G., Meyer, B., Zieschank, R. and Diefenbacher, H. (2014) Basic Structures and Political Implications of a Sustainable Welfare Model. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, A3, 189-203.
[27]
Meyer, B., Ahlert, G., Zieschank, R. and Diefenbacher, H. (2013) Eckpunkte eines okologisch tragfahigen Wohlfahrtskonzeptes. Study III as Part of the Project Entitled “Eckpunkte eines okologisch tragfahigen Wohlfahrtskonzepts als Grundlage für umweltpolitische Innovationsund Transformationsprozesse” Carried out for the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). GWS Research Report 2013/1, Osnabrück, Heidelberg and Berlin.
[28]
Fritz, M. and Koch, M. (2014) Potentials for Prosperity without Growth: Ecological Sustainability, Social Inclusion and the Quality of Life in 38 Countries. Ecological Economics, 108, 191-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.10.021
[29]
Zieschank, R. and Diefenbacher, H. (2012) The National Welfare Index as a Contribution to the Debate on A More Sustainable Economy. FFU-Report 02-2012, Forschungszentrum für Umweltpolitik, FU Berlin.
[30]
Dasgupta, P. (2008) Nature in Economics. Environmental and Resource Economics, 39, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-007-9178-4
[31]
German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) (2012) Environmental Report 2012—Responsibility in a Finite World. Summary for Policy Makers, Berlin.
[32]
Bartelmus, P. (2015) Do We Need Ecosystem Accounts? Ecological Economics, 118, 292-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.12.026
[33]
Kallis G., Gomez-Baggethun, E. and Zografos, C. (2013) To Value or Not to Value? That Is Not the Question. Ecological Economics, 94, 97-105.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2013.07.002
[34]
Hayer, M., Nilsson, M., Raworth, K., et al. (2015) Beyond Cockpitism: Four Insights to Enhance the Transformative Potential of the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability, 2015, 1651-1660.
[35]
United Nations (2014) Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General on the Post-2015 Agenda: The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet. New York.
[36]
Diefenbacher, H., Zieschank, R., Duewell, M., Leggewie, C., Petschow, U., Philips, J., Pissarskoi, E. and Sommer, B. (2014) Konzepte gesellschaftlichen Wohlstands und okologische Gerechtigkeit. Study Commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency, Umweltforschungsplan des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit: Schwerpunkt 12. Ubergreifende umweltpolitische Forschungsfragen. Forschungskennzahl 3711 11 103. Umweltbundesamt Reihe Texte 14/2014.
http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien /378/publikationen/texte_45_2014_konzepte_gesellschaftlichen_wohlstands.pdf
[37]
World Steel Association (2012) Sustainable Steel. At the Core of the Green Economy. Brussels.
http://www.worldsteel.org/en/dam/jcr:5b246502-df29-4d8b- 92bb-afb2dc27ed4f/Sustainable-steel-at-the-core-of-a-green-economy.pdf
[38]
Barbier, E.B. (2011) The Policy Challenges for Green Economy and Sustainable Economic Development. Natural Resources Forum, 35, 233-245.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-8947.2011.01397.x
[39]
Lutz, C., Lehr, U. and Ulrich, P. (2014) Economic Evaluation of Climate Protection Measures in Germany. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 4, 693-705.
[40]
Matthes, F., Busche, J., Doring, U., Emele, L., Gores, S., Harthan, R., Hermann, H., JorB, W., Loreck, C., Scheffler, M., Hansen, P., Diekmann, J., Horn, M., Eichhammer, W., Elsland, R., Fleiter, T., Schade, W., Schlomann, B., SensfuB, F. and Ziesing, H., et al. (2013) Politikszenarien für den Klimaschutz VI—Treibhausgas-Emissionsszenarien bis zum Jahr 2030. Climate Change 04/2013, Dessau-RoBlau. http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/ politikszenarien-fuer-den-klimaschutz-vi
[41]
Lutz, C. and Lehr, U. (2014) Macroeconomic Effects of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies with a Focus on Germany. In: Bernhard, L. and Semmler, W., Eds., The Oxford Handbook of the Macroeconomics of Global Warming, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 477-496.
[42]
Lehr, U. and Lutz, C. (2016) German Energiewende—Quo vadis? In: Bardazzi, R., Pazienza, M.G. and Tonini, A., Eds., European Energy and Climate Security: Public Policies, Energy Sources, and Eastern Partners, Springer, Berlin, 203-232.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21302-6_10
[43]
Maier, T., Monnig, A. and Zika, G. (2015) Labour Demand in Germany by Industrial Sector, Occupational Field and Qualification Until 2025—Model Calculations Using the IAB/INFORGE Model. Economic Systems Research, 27, 19-42.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09535314.2014.997678
[44]
GWS, EWI and Prognos (2014) Gesamtwirtschaftliche Effekte der Energiewende. Study Commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Osnabrück, Cologne and Basel.
http://www.bmwi.de/DE/Mediathek/publikationen,did=662814.html
[45]
Lehr, U., Lutz, C. and Ulrich, P. (2013) Gesamtwirtschaftliche Wirkungen von KlimaschutzmaBnahmen und-instrumenten: Politikszenarien für den Klimaschutz VI. Climate Change 21/2013, Dessau-RoBlau.
[46]
Lutz, C., Lehr, U. and Edler, D. (2012) Green Jobs? Economic Impacts of Renewable Energy in Germany. Energy Policy, 47, 358-364.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.04.076
[47]
Blazejczak, J., Edler, D. and Schill, W.-P. (2014) Improved Energy Efficiency: Vital for Energy Transition and Stimulus for Economic Growth. DIW Economic Bulletin, 4, 3-15.
[48]
Kuckshinrichs, W., Kronenberg, T. and Hansen, P. (2010) The Social Return on Investment in the Energy Efficiency of Buildings in Germany. Energy Policy, 38, 4317-4329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.03.060
[49]
Markaki, M., Belegri-Roboli, A., Michaelides, P., Mirasgedis, S. and Lalas, D.P. (2014) The Impact of Clean Energy Investments on the Greek Economy: An Input-Output Analysis (2010-2020). Energy Policy, 57, 263-275.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.01.047
[50]
Matsuhashi, R. and Takase, K. (2015) Green Innovation and Green Growth for Realizing an Affluent Low-Carbon Society. Low Carbon Economy, 6, 87-95.
https://doi.org/10.4236/lce.2015.64010
[51]
IEA (2014) Capturing the Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency. Paris.
[52]
Janicke, M. (2012) ‘‘Green Growth’’: From a Growing Eco-Industry to Economic Sustainability. Energy Policy, 48, 13-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.04.045
[53]
Mundaca, L., Neij, L., Markandya, A., Hennicke, P. and Jinyue, Y. (2016) Towards a Green Energy Economy? Assessing Policy Choices, Strategies and Transitional Pathways. Applied Energy, 179, 1283-1292.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.08.086
