Constructing Meanings of a Green Economy: Investigation of an Argument for Africa’s Transition towards the Green Economy

Poverty Reduction, Employment and Equity 
Poverty, understood in the Green Economy as insufficient access to education, healthcare, 
property rights, income and financial credit, is considered the largest sign of social inequity 
(UNEP 2011). It is also portrayed as an element of risk and insecurity, particularly with regard to 
natural disasters and economic shocks. Poverty is also linked to energy in this context: energy 
poverty equates to inaccessibility to electricity or to less costly, efficient and hazardous sources 
such as kerosene-based lighting (UNEP 2011). 
Poverty reduction thus takes multifaceted approaches in a Green Economy. LDCs, with a 
significant percentage of poor populations are consequently marked for green sustainable agri-
culture especially at the small holder scale; sustainable practices would increase productivity, 
simultaneously ensure food security, counter carbon emissions and stimulate developed access to 
green product markets (e.g. organic foods) thereby increasing opportunities for income (UNEP 
2011). 
Investment in natural resources such as water and forests that low-income communities rely 
heavily upon, for their replenishment and sustainable use would also contribute to tightening 
their safety nets in case of shocks mentioned above (UNEP 2011). Investment in increasingly 
green and growing sectors such as local tourism, sustainable high-productivity agriculture, small 
scale renewable energy technology savoir-faire, waste management and recycling would provide 
multiple opportunities for employment of current low-income earners in the short, medium and 
long term (UNEP 2010, UNEP 2011, UNEP and ILO 2011). Increased employment rates in 
low-income areas would ultimately lead to an economic boost for a country. 

---

10 
The availability of strong safety nets, economically, in terms of access to resources (natural, 
education and healthcare) and employment, makes for relatively improved and more sustainable 
livelihoods. The message again seems to be to invest, only this time in people and in increasing 
their economic opportunities through employment, education and training, access to energy and 
access to vital natural resources.