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It is generally accepted that the environment needs not to be treated differently from mainstream economics. More and more countries are integrating environmental issues into the development of macroeconomic plans through the principles green economy. Silvica describes the influence of Green Economy concepts on two global environmental governance frameworks; the Montreal Protocol and the Rio +20.

The Montreal Protocol

Since the concept requires some degree of paradigm shifts, there is a need for commitments by the governments at the international level. Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) have not yet achieved their desired objectives. But the influence of MEAs in achieving and adapting the concept of the green economy can be illustrated by the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol is recognized worldwide as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement, and it also has the distinction of enjoying universal membership. This MEA has contributed not only to protecting the ozone layer in the stratosphere but has brought economic, environmental and social benefits. It has contributed to the greening of the Article 5 economies (developing countries) and to the greening of non-Article 5 (developed) economies with technology transfer and creation of institutional and sectoral capacities through the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol, as well as through independent funding and parallel efforts by governments and the private sector.

Since going into effect in 1987, the implementation of the Montreal Protocol has reduced by 97% the production and consumption of around 100 industrial chemical compounds known to deplete the ozone layer. Since substances that deplete the ozone layer are also greenhouse gases (GHGs), the Protocol has had the additional advantage of reducing GHG emission by around 11 billion (11,000,000,000) tons of CO2e (GtCO2e/yr). This shows the role of Multilateral environmental agreement if the green economy is an achievable goal.

Rio +20

Though the concept of a green economy has been around for a number of years, it was officially placed on the table when the United Nations General Assembly resolved to hold its Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012, defining the objective of the Conference in terms of:  “Securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and addressing new and emerging challenges”.

Under the General Assembly’s resolution, the products of the conference would include a specific policy document, and the conference would, among other things, focus on the following two issues:

• Green Economy  in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and
• The institutional framework for sustainable development.

It is essential to note that the concept of a “green economy” is not a substitute for “sustainable development”. Rather, it is a path to sustainable development, though the path differs according to different countries, depending on their particular situation, conditions, and perspectives (UNEP, 2011). There are a number of sustainable development initiatives in the world that may already be considered “green economy” initiatives. Though they range rather broadly in scope, they have some common elements. The concept of the green economy is a major agenda in the Rio + 20 meeting to be held later in 2012. This is expected to give the concept a major impetus in the global arena as governments may commit to the concept as they did to the relatively successful Agenda 21 in 1992.