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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
Topic: Explicate how could the concept of “Green Economy” be applicable to the analysis of your own
standpoint as a member of Global Citizenship?
Nguyen Duy Duc - April, 10th
, 2013

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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
I. Introduction:
The concept of “Green Economy” is more widely popular nowadays. The tendency of
industrialization exists widely and the bad effects of it are harmful to the environment. The
Green Economy is considered a method for improving the economy in developed countries and
developing countries. People mention the Green Economy to save their economy, but it also
serves to pollute and threaten the environment.
Developing a clean economy which is less harmful for the environment will improve many
aspects of human life and will likely less threaten people and other living things as well.
II. The definition of Green Economy:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a Green Economy as one that results
in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental
risks and ecological scarcity. In its simplest expression, a Green Economy expels little carbon is
resource efficient and socially inclusive.
Recent research source shows that the Green Economy is a clean energy economy, consisting
primarily of four sectors: renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geothermal); green buildings and
energy efficient technology; energy-efficient infrastructure and transportation; and recycling
waste-to-energy.
The Green Economy is not just about the ability to produce clean energy, but also includes
technologies that allow cleaner production processes, as well as the growing market for products
which consume less energy, such as fluorescent lightbulbs and organic and locally produced
food. Thus, it might include products, processes, and services that reduce environmental impact
or improve natural resource use.

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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
In general, the Green Economy is a type of the economy that provides benefits for all humans
and societies while reducing the risks of effects to the environment. The Green Economy is
closely linked with a stable economy in order to preserve and enhance the benefits of all natural
resouces from the earth.
III. Green Economy in the world:
The early part of the 21st century has seen dramatic changes in the world’s environmental and
economic well-being. With regard to the economy, many developing and developed contries are
trying their best to increase GDP as high as they can. The environment is suffering from
pollution due to too much focusing on the economy. Below are two charts showing how all of
the economic systems in the world are harming to the environment.
In addition, the tendency of deforestation and the hectares of planted forest are increasing, which
means pristine forests are gradually disappearing. A Green Economy calls for the preservation of
forests in order to prevent threats to human livelihoods.
Chart 1: Trends in Forest Cover and Deforestation
Forest Cover 1990 2010
World forest
area
(hectares)
4.17 billion 4.03 billion
World planted
forest area
(hectares)
178 million 264 million
Deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2010

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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
Annual net
forest loss
(hectares/year)
8.3 million 5.2 million
Annual
deforestation
(hectares/year)
16 million 13 million
Annual
increase in
planted
forest
(hectares/year)
3.36 million 5 million
Source: Global Forest Resource Assessment 2010, FAO; *Carle and Holmgren, 2008
The total area of world forest area in 1990 is 4.17 million hectares; 2010 with 4.03 billion
hectares. As we can see in the chart above, the number of total forest area of total planted area,
increased considerably. And the number of annual deforestation is decreasing 10 years from
1990 to 2010.
Chart 2: Investment in Sustainable Energy, 2004-2009 (US$ billion).
Source: UNEP and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, 2010.
46 72
109
157 173 162
0
50
100
150
200
Năm 2004 Năm 2205 Năm 2006 Năm 2007 Năm 2008 Năm 2009
Global New Investment In Sustainable
Energy, 2004-2009, $BN

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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
It can be said that the investment in sustainable energy from 2004 to 2009 inreased from $46BN
up to $162BN. This means existing sustainable energy exists on the earth is increasing. The
harmful effects to the Green Economy will be larger if the investment increases.
The topic for the Worldwide Environment Day on June, 5th
, 2012 was “Green Economy” (Green
Economy: Does it include you?). The topic emphasized how to build a Green Economy for a
brighter future. More significantly, “you” are an important factor for contributing for the success
of the Green Economy.
The Green Economy has a very close relationship with stable development. The Green Economy
plays an important role in the stable development of all needs, yet is not harmful for the future.
Stable development offers us the highest standard of workmanship, whether you require a new
extension to a property or improvements to your existing home.
In summary, the economy and environment is considered as a solution to increasing pollution
world.
IV. Green Economy in Vietnam
Changing economic models to the Green Economy will bring many advantages to Vietnam. The
actions of running the economy will be benificial if it has no bad effects to the environment. On
the other hand, the country should develop some key industries that are friendly to the
environment such as eco-tourism, organic agriculture, recycling industries, bio-energy,
regenerating natural forests, etc.
It can be said that choosing a Green Economy is the best choice for futher the alleviation of
poverty in Vietnam. However, the model of a Green Economy in Vietnam needs to be researched
and improved to be appropriate to the situation in Vietnam.

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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
So, is Vietnam stable with the development? The economy in Vietnam is not “green” yet
because it is based on the natural sources such as exploiting raw minerals, forests… Secondly,
the economy is suffering from large amounts of big solid waste. The economic factor is
dominant over the environment and society. The GDP of Vietnam is high but it is dependent on
some industries that waste natural resources, pollute environment and exploit raw products.
V. Benefits from Green Economy:
In Green Economy, the environment can create the development of the economy and healthcare
well. For example, the Green Economy can prevent disasters from nature such as floods,
droughts… and climate change for the poor, who are easily affected. In addition, the Green
Economy can create equality in society.
The Green Economy can also create jobs. The Green Economy is able to create jobs in some
potential fields such as organic agriculture, recycling energy, pubic transportation, etc.
The declining the diversity of biology reduces walfare in the world. Meanwhile, some countries
in the world are facing more serious problems and poverty, which harms the eco-system and can
lead to climate change. Moreover, ecosystem is main supplyies materials for economic
development.
Moreover, the policies of Green Economy will help developing countries in some aspects of
economy and society such as clean energy, approachable energy services and improving effect
using sources through investment, etc.
VI. Conclusion:
Above are some analysises about the importance of the Green Economy such as different aspects
of some concepts of Green Economy, the economic situation impacting on the economy in the
world and Vietnam and some benefits from Green Economy.

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Nguyen Duy Duc, April, 2013
The harmful effects of climate change will not only impact on Vietnam, but also impact on all of
the countries in the world. Therefore, human being and living things have to suffer directly from
the change.
We need to spread out global awareness as much as possible about the Green Econnomy for all
of people on earth to earn benefits from that. In addition, the government of any country needs to
stress on some kinds of service such as eco-tourism, organic agriculture, recycling industries,
bio-energy, regenerating natural forests, etc. Besides that, they need to reduce some fields
causing over-pollution.
It comes to an end that each member of Global Citizen needs to have a firm awareness of Green
Economy in order to develop the economy without pollution.