How Fair Can Be Green

This research paper explores the intersection of equality and sustainability, arguing that while policies for economic growth or clean energy can inadvertently exacerbate inequality, it is possible to implement integrated policies that deliver both social and environmental benefits.

• Inequality is linked to several critical societal factors, including economic growth, wellbeing, sustainability, and the stability of democracy and society. This has led to the inclusion of reducing inequalities within and among countries as a UN Sustainable Development Goal.
• There is a risk of counter-productive policy outcomes when governments address equality and sustainability separately. Specifically, efforts to reduce poverty and boost growth can speed up environmental degradation, and the implementation of new clean energy infrastructure may exclude marginalised communities, thereby increasing inequality.
• The paper asserts that social and environmental goals are not mutually exclusive and that development can be both fair and green. It notes that while some environmental policies have negatively impacted the poorest, others have successfully redressed inequality and directed benefits to those in most need.

APA

Green Economy Coalition (2019). How Fair Can Be Green. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/how-fair-can-be-green

Chicago

Green Economy Coalition. How Fair Can Be Green. 2019. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/how-fair-can-be-green.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Economy Coalition |title=How Fair Can Be Green |date=8 April 2019 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/how-fair-can-be-green |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greeneconomycoalition2019how, author = {{Green Economy Coalition}}, title = {{How Fair Can Be Green}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2019}, month = apr, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/how-fair-can-be-green}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }