scholarly journals Building a green economy of low carbon: the Greek post-crisis experience of photovoltaics and financial 'green grabbing'

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoi Christina Siamanta

Abstract Under the global rhetoric of 'the green economy' Renewable Energy Resources (RES) projects have proliferated across the world. This article examines the growth of photovoltaic projects in post-crisis Greece, grounded in a green energy discourse. The aim is to provide insights into how green economies are built and what new appropriations they (might) entail. It is based on a Foucauldian oriented discourse analysis, in depth semi-structured interviews and review of a variety of other sources. The article argues that justificatory discourses for green growth implicated in 'green grabbing' involve the complex interplay of neoliberal and disciplinary 'environmentalities.' These seek to construct 'green economy' entrepreneurs and compliant subjects. A relatively undocumented and understudied aspect of green grabs is the appropriation of public and private financial resources for photovoltaic projects, with significant negative impacts on livelihoods. In Greece, this has resulted in the accumulation of capital by a few large RES companies, as well as significant impacts on the livelihoods of domestic and small business electricity consumers and small/medium photovoltaic investors through debt. Key words: Greece, green economy, photovoltaics, green grabbing, environmentality, Foucault, green energy

2020 ◽  
pp. 251484862090816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Stock

Post-Paris Agreement, India is swiftly transitioning to low-carbon electricity generation through solar park development. Despite exceeding emissions reduction targets, many social development claims remain unrealized. This paper addresses the following questions: (1) What discourses do state institutions utilize to justify solar park development in rural spaces? (2) What sociopolitical effects do these discourses have at the local scale? I conducted a critical discourse analysis of technical and policy documents focusing on knowledge production to influence social power and the political economy. I also draw on eight months of fieldwork, including semi-structured interviews of residents, bureaucrats, and solar employees in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and New Delhi. This paper argues that solar parks are rationalized via discursive formations of the climate crisis, economic development, and ecological modernization. These discursive formations are stitched together into story-lines and circulated by public and private institutions (Solar India), comprising a “deus ex mitigata,” a deus ex machina set of discursive formations that rationalize greener capital accumulation in neoliberal India that does not address asymmetric power relations. The modalities by which this is accomplished dispossess peasants of land and livelihoods. As such, low-carbon electricity generation does not positively “transform the lives” of residents, a raison d’être for solar park development.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connor Joseph Cavanagh ◽  
Tor Arve Benjaminsen

Abstract Over the past two decades, political ecologists have provided extensive critiques of the privatization, commodification, and marketization of nature, including of the new forms of accumulation and appropriation that these might facilitate under the more recent guise of green growth and the green economy. These critiques have often demonstrated that such approaches can retain deleterious implications for certain vulnerable populations across the developing world and beyond. With few exceptions, however, political ecologists have paid decidedly less attention to expounding upon alternative initiatives for pursuing both sustainability and socio-environmental justice. Accordingly, the contributions to this Special Section engage the concept of the green economy explicitly as a terrain of struggle, one inevitably conditioned by the variegated forms that actually-existing 'green economy' strategies ultimately take in specific historical and geographical conjunctures. In doing so, they highlight the ways in which there is likewise not one but many potential sustainabilities for pursuing human and non-human well-being in the ostensibly nascent Anthropocene, each of which reflects alternative – and, potentially, more progressive – constellations of social, political, and economic relations. Yet they also foreground diverse efforts to pre-empt or to foreclose upon these alternatives, highlighting an implicit politics of precisely whose conception of sustainability is deemed to be possible or desirable in any given time and place. In exploring such struggles over alternative sustainabilities and the 'ecologies of hope' that they implicitly offer, then, this introduction first reviews the current frontiers of these debates, before illuminating how the contributions to this issue both intersect with and build upon them. Key words: Green economy; political ecology; political economy; alternative sustainabilities


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
Luan Nguyen Van

The transition of the economic growth model towards a green and sustainableone is a process that requires a reasonable and efficient combination of growth factors. The Vietnam’s economic growth in the period of 2001-2013 created an impression of the economic growth in the economic transition period. The economic growth in the last decade has been mainly in breadth and relied on investment capital and labor expansions. The growth has also relied on natural resources which exacerbated the environmental pollution. This requires Vietnam to change the economic growth model towards a green and sustainable ones. Green growth and green economic development are towards a low-carbon economy, enriching natural resources, reducing emission and increasing greenhouse gases absorption which are an inevitable tendency in the socio-economic development. The green economy enhances the living quality, social equality and significantly reduces the environmental risks and ecological scarcity. This is a new economic model which has a low emission level, uses natural resources efficiently and towards a social equality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13151
Author(s):  
Larissa Batrancea ◽  
Marcel Ciprian Pop ◽  
Malar Maran Rathnaswamy ◽  
Ioan Batrancea ◽  
Mircea-Iosif Rus

The study investigates the transition process and core principles of a green economy. At a global level, green growth represents the essence of a green economy. In this context, the process of restructuring the market economy and transitioning toward a green economy implies continuous efforts and interdependence since it cannot be achieved in isolation. The model of restructuring economic activities to the specificity of a green economy addresses the interdependent pillars of sustainable development: environmental concerns; renewable energy; low carbon levels. Nevertheless, the green economy model that is applied to advanced economies cannot be implemented to low-income economies because of development gaps. Moreover, emerging economies also have other goals and priorities that demand changes into the green economy model of advanced economies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2(71)) ◽  
pp. 130-138
Author(s):  
N. V. SMENTYNA ◽  
A. A. FIALKOVSKA

Topicality. The urgency of the problem of planning the "green" development of the economy of the amalgamated territorial communities is compounded by the need to combine economic growth with the protection of the environment in view of the current world trends that direct the policy of local economic development to the concept of sustainable development. Aim and tasks. The aim of the paper is to develop theoretical principles and practical applications, that should justify the expediency of introducing local economic development instruments in the context of the concept of "green" development. Proposals can be taken into account and implemented on the territory of any region or territorial community of Ukraine. Research results. The role of the state in identifying priority areas and areas of "green" growth, in particular at the level of voluntarily amalgamated territorial communities, has been marked by the introduction of a participatory approach to planning. These instruments of state economic policy, which are used as an instrument of transition to the principles of the "green" economy. The possibilities of increasing energy efficiency through the use of clean renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies in the key sector of the "green" economy have been determined. The market of renewable energy sources in Ukraine has been analyzed and the possibilities of financial support of electricity producers from the funds of international institutions have been indicated. It has been noted that the technical and economic opportunities of green energy projects at the level of voluntarily united communities should summarize the "road" map, which should include a perspective plan for the development of green energy, costs for the implementation of the project, justification of the feasibility of their implementation, the effects of positive or negative impact on the environment. Proposals have been developed regarding the institutional support of the "green" economy at the level of the amalgamated territorial communities and identified services that could be provided by the "green" chambers in the communities. Conclusion. Local governments, making a policy of boosting local economic growth, should lay the foundations for the implementation of the concept of "green" development, the use of green technologies, green production, etc., in order to achieve harmonious economic and environmental development and contribute to raising the standard of living of the population. Local authorities are obliged to strengthen the local economy and introduce the green economy model by gradually reducing the use of organic fuel and promoting the development of green technologies and green production. Encouraging all stakeholders to implement the concept of "green" growth and supporting their activities requires local authorities to introduce a number of measures aimed, in particular, at raising awareness and promoting the concept of "green" development among the local population, as well as by providing informational and financial support to enterprises, citizens and non-governmental organizations. The development and implementation of measures to ensure the green development of the economy of the amalgamated territorial communities should take into account local features and conditions, as well as assess the impact of such plans on the implementation of the concept of "green" development.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Chala ◽  

The strategy of development of the green economy of Japan has been analyzed in this article. It has been noted that the main course in the green economy is low-carbon development and financing of «green» sectors of the economy, which leads to green growth, that is expressed through the rational use of resources and reducing the level of environmental burden. It has been argued that Japan is a leader in international climate policy and environmental protection because it plays a key role in investing in green and low-carbon infrastructure and supports the achievement of sustainable development goals. The preconditions for the formation of the «green economy» concept and its implementation in the program documents of Japan have been studied. The main strategic documents of Japan in the field of green economy development have been reviewed and their key mechanisms have been highlighted. The main strategies implemented by Japan have been revealed, as well as the sectors of the economy targeted by actions aimed at «greening» the economic processes. It has been stated that he main elements of green innovation were the energy sector, the transport system, resource management, and eco-housing. The effectiveness of strategic mechanisms has been assessed by analyzing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with production processes; the level of renewable energy use and the share of renewable electricity use; the level of energy intensity of the agricultural, industrial and service sectors; volumes of generated waste and the share of incinerated, disposed to landfill and recycled or composted waste. Japan's goals in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 have been stated. Conclusions on the effectiveness of the mechanisms of the green economy development strategy in Japan have been made. It has been considered that since 1990, the country has achieved significant results in the course of green growth, which is reflected in reducing the energy intensity of production processes, increasing the share of alternative energy, developing an effective waste management strategy, which almost eliminated waste disposal and significantly increased recycling and composting. At the same time, the main task remains to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, which was approved by the plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Gregorio Sánchez Calderón

Una economía verde es aquella que tiene bajas emisiones de carbono, utiliza los recursos naturales de forma eficiente y es socialmente incluyente; la sociedad en su conjunto debe asumir que el proceso de transición ya empezó, pero se requiere un mayor impulso de los sectores público y privado. Los primeros pasos para ampliar y fortalecer el enverdecimiento de una economía es dar valor al capital natural, modificar y fortalecer el marco regulatorio para las inversiones, utilizar de forma eficiente los recursos naturales y crear puestos de trabajo verdes. Como consecuencia de una utilización eficiente del capital humano y natural existente en el planeta se optimiza el desarrollo económico, se mitiga las desigualdades sociales y se reorienta el nuevo rumbo del mundo. Estos aspectos son tratados a continuación para sustentar los beneficios de su aplicación. Palabras Clave: capital natural, sostenibilidad, enverdecimiento, economía verde. ABSTRACT A green economy is one that has low carbon emissions, used natural resources efficiently and is socially inclusive; society as a whole must assume that the transition process has already started, but a boost higher from the public and private sectors is required. The first steps to expand and strengthen the greening of an economy is to give value to the natural capital, modify and strengthen the regulatory framework for the  investments, efficiently use natural resources and create green jobs. As a result of efficient utilization of human and natural capital on the planet is optimized economic development, social inequality is mitigated and the new direction of the world is reoriented. These aspects are discussed below to support the benefits of its application. Keywords: natural capital, sustainability, greening, green economy. Recibido: diciembre de 2015Aprobado: mayo 2016


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1165-1171
Author(s):  
Karl Gatterer ◽  
◽  
Salah Arafa ◽  

Reliable and affordable energy is the key for the socio-economic development in rural and desert communities worldwide. While energy can be used for consumption purposes such as Lighting, Access to Information, Comfort and Entertainment, productive use of renewable energy is the key enabler for SMEs and Economy to grow. The paper examines the complex interactions among Energy, Materials, Water, Food, Building, Employment and Environment. It also discusses the implementation of renewable energy technologies to overcome some of barriers faced by rural villages and desert communities. It shows some of the special applications and approaches used over the past few decades in energy conversion, consumption and conservation to achieve poverty reduction, social justice and sustainable development. Field experiences in Basaisa projects, Egypt showed that open free dialogues with all stakeholders, site-specific education and training, appropriate local financing systems and access to knowledge are key-elements and essential factors for achieving green economy and sustainable community development. The coming decade will see a continued expansion of knowledge about renewable energy resources and its useful applications as systems friendly to the environment and as tools for economic activities, sustainable living and growth in rural and desert communities.


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