Research and evidence on green growth
The study identified a range of institutions involved in research, support, and convening on Green Growth issues
Abstract
This study had two components: firstly, investigation, identification and mapping of recent research on Green Growth, including effects on the environment and environmental resources and poverty in developing countries; and secondly, identification of the evidence and research gaps in the same area and a brief discussion of where further research by DFID would add most value.
The rapid desk-based study identified a range of institutions involved in research, support, and convening on Green Growth issues. Though there is great diversity in the actors involved, a smaller number of organisations and partnerships are leading the debate about Green Growth and publishing research. These include the OECD, the World Bank, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), UNEP and other members of the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP).
The report briefly discusses the debate around the definition of Green Growth and the relevance of Green Growth to developing countries and poverty reduction. Research questions in the existing literature are then summarised, followed by a summary of current Green Growth research.
Gaps in knowledge and research on Green Growth were identified under each of the issue areas of economics, technology and innovation, trade, jobs, and metrics. Gaps in knowledge about the role of the private sector in achieving Green Growth or implementing Green Growth policies were also evident.
Although Green Growth is relevant to DFID objectives, there is a large gap in knowledge and research on the costs and benefits of Green Growth policies for DFID priority countries. The debate on the relevance of Green Growth for LICs suggests that such research needs to be country-focused. DFID-supported research on the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of the adoption of Green Growth in LICs, including at macro-, micro-economic and sectoral levels, would fill this gap and inform policy-making in the countries concerned.
A second area where value could be added by DFID is research that assesses the contribution to Green Growth in developing countries of measures that strengthen the sustainable management of natural resources and improve the efficiency of resource use. There is also scope for DFID to support research on the effects on Green Growth of the activities of the local private sector in developing countries and how these might be enhanced.
This report has been produced by the Overseas Development Institute for Evidence on Demand with the assistance of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) contracted through the Climate, Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods Professional Evidence and Applied Knowledge Services (CEIL PEAKS) programme, jointly managed by HTSPE Limited and IMC Worldwide Limited.
Citation
Scott, A.; McFarland, W.; Seth, P. Research and evidence on green growth. Evidence on Demand, UK (2013) 38 pp. [DOI: 10.12774/eod_hd064.july2013.scott]
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