GEC Global Meeting 2019: Background Briefing & Context

The GEC 2019 briefing reviews the global transition to green economies, noting that while renewable energy and green finance grew in 2018, biodiversity loss and inequality remain critical. The document outlines the GEC's mission to champion inclusion, equity, and environmental limits through financial reform, natural capital accounting, and just transitions. It emphasizes that environmental protection is dependent on improving human livelihoods, citing specific examples of community-led success and the need for structural economic reform.

• In 2018, the global transition to green economies saw significant growth in renewables and finance, with renewables accounting for approximately 70% of net additions to global power generation capacity and private investment reaching 9.3 trillion USD since 2007.
• Despite green growth, biodiversity is in a state of crisis, with 58% of Earth's land surface having lost enough biodiversity to threaten the ability of ecosystems to support human societies. There is a significant funding gap for conservation, with an estimated need for 300-400 billion USD compared to the current 50 billion USD.
• The GEC argues that inclusivity is an environmental and economic necessity, as nature protection efforts often fail if they do not improve lives. Examples include the struggle to restore the Rwizi river in Uganda due to community reliance on it, and the necessity of affordable energy for poor people to tackle air pollution in Mongolia.
• A just transition requires providing new livelihood opportunities through retraining and reskilling. The document cites Spain's support for coal-miners, South Africa's Working for Water Programmes, and Brazil's "Forest Allowance" Programme as examples of social protection meeting conservation.
• The GEC identifies that long-term success and scale in the green transition are more likely when communities have rights and ownership, citing community energy in Denmark, family forests in Sweden, and locally owned forests in Nepal.

APA

Green Economy Coalition (2019). GEC Global Meeting 2019: Background Briefing & Context. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/Cape-Town-Global-Meet-2019/BACKGROUND-BRIEF-for-GEC-Global-Meeting-2019.pdf

Chicago

Green Economy Coalition. GEC Global Meeting 2019: Background Briefing & Context. 2019. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/Cape-Town-Global-Meet-2019/BACKGROUND-BRIEF-for-GEC-Global-Meeting-2019.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Economy Coalition |title=GEC Global Meeting 2019: Background Briefing & Context |date=2019 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/Cape-Town-Global-Meet-2019/BACKGROUND-BRIEF-for-GEC-Global-Meeting-2019.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greeneconomycoalition2019gec, author = {{Green Economy Coalition}}, title = {{GEC Global Meeting 2019: Background Briefing \& Context}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2019}, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/Cape-Town-Global-Meet-2019/BACKGROUND-BRIEF-for-GEC-Global-Meeting-2019.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }