Rationale for shifting to a green economy

The document argues that Caribbean states are highly vulnerable to ecological limits, climate change, and economic instability, necessitating a shift toward a 'green economy'. It identifies systemic barriers such as political disincentives, brain drain, and outdated regulations, while proposing a foundation based on human security, good governance, and pan-Caribbean cooperation. The proposed green economy model emphasizes reducing dependency on high-carbon energy imports, optimizing domestic supply chains, and implementing 'triple bottom line' business principles to ensure long-term prosperity and social equity.

• Caribbean states face severe vulnerabilities including extreme poverty disparities—with per capita income ranging from $24,233 in Trinidad and Tobago to $949 in Haiti—and high disaster risks where natural hazards can cause economic impacts exceeding 180% of GDP in some cases.
• The region is locked into an unsustainable economic paradigm by several formidable obstacles: political disincentives to alienate powerful interest groups, a declining role for civil society, a shrinking human resource base due to brain drain and poor education performance, and regulatory frameworks that may encourage 'perverse practices'.
• A transition to a green economy in the Caribbean requires a foundation of human security, democratic governance, and pan-Caribbean cooperation to reduce dependence on external economic drivers and spread risk.
• The characteristics of a proposed Caribbean green economy include the elimination of dependency on high-carbon energy sources, the application of 'triple bottom line' principles by businesses, and the creation of mutually reinforcing rural-urban and inter-sectoral economic linkages.
• Immediate opportunities for implementing this transition include scaling up best practices, completing the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, creating incentives for renewable energy and waste recycling, and utilizing REDD+ facilities to stimulate green jobs.

APA

Green Economy Coalition (2011). Rationale for shifting to a green economy. http://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/sites/gecnew.iiedlist.org/files/GEC_Caribbean_0_0.pdf

Chicago

Green Economy Coalition. Rationale for shifting to a green economy. 2011. http://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/sites/gecnew.iiedlist.org/files/GEC_Caribbean_0_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Economy Coalition |title=Rationale for shifting to a green economy |date=March 2011 |url=http://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/sites/gecnew.iiedlist.org/files/GEC_Caribbean_0_0.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greeneconomycoalition2011rationale, author = {{Green Economy Coalition}}, title = {{Rationale for shifting to a green economy}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2011}, month = mar, url = {http://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/sites/gecnew.iiedlist.org/files/GEC_Caribbean_0_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }