Green Development, Natural Resource Financialization and Emerging Conflict in Southern Africa with Examples from Implementation Contexts in Madagascar, Tanzania and South Africa

Abstract

In recent years, widespread uncertainty around global economic and environmental futures has contributed to growing advocacy for a global ‘greening’ of the economy involving the coordinated establishment of pro-environment economic policies and programmes around the world (Barbier 2010; UNDESA 2009). Following the dominant framings favoured by the United Nations (UN) and partners, the term ‘green economy’ refers to a flexible policy toolkit that includes recommendations for environmental regulations, market-based and financial instruments, and voluntary initiatives to promote capitalisation of pro-environment goods and services and stimulate green economic growth (UNEMG 2011). Along these lines, a number of UN-affiliated international and regional intergovernmental organisations and development banks have developed their own complementary green growth strategies and frameworks that link up with the UN approach through a number of collaborations, agreements, mechanisms and partnerships (AfDB 2014; Fay 2012; UNDESA 2013). In this report, the terms ‘green economy’ and ‘green growth’ are used at times to reference the same thing – to refer to the common dominant principles of these approaches, namely:  Environmentally sustainable economic growth – the idea that economic growth and environmental integrity can be complementary and achievable goals within the appropriate market and regulatory contexts  Socially inclusive green growth – the idea that green economic growth should be pro-poor and maximise both immediate and local benefits to reduce poverty and vulnerability and long-term global benefits towards sustainability  Universality – the idea that transitions to green economies should be universal to realise a cumulative global transition towards sustainability  Flexibility – there is no single green growth model; green economic strategies will vary by region and country based on context, capabilities, preferences and funding.