Green Economy and Sustainable Development: Bringing Back the Social Dimension - UNRISD Conference

Please note: The presentations, papers, agenda and the conference flyer can be downloaded using the links at the bottom of this page. A conference summary will be available soon.

This UNRISD Conference created a forum for developing a conceptual and policy framework that will position social dimensions at the centre of green economy and sustainable development. Policy reports and other publications will inform the UNCSD 2012 (Rio+20) preparatory process and subsequent policy discussions. The conference critically examined the following interrelated themes:

Competing Paradigms
How is the notion of green economy itself, and the consideration of social dimensions, being framed, and with what effects in terms of influencing policy agendas and shaping development models?

The Challenge of Policy Coherence
What role can social policy, in association with economic and environmental policy, play in minimizing costs, maximizing benefits and building resilience, especially for vulnerable groups? How does the green economy agenda connect with other sustainable development objectives?

Agency, Interests and Coalitions
What forms of participation, contestation, coalitions, alliances and compromises are emerging—or might need to emerge—to promote green economy approaches that contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication?

Community Values, Institutions and Dynamics
How is green economy perceived and interpreted locally? How do local level contexts and dynamics affect – and how are they affected by – external interventions?

The Social Construction of Markets
How do societal norms and pressures, as well as public and private regulation and governance, shape market relations and business behaviour associated with green economy and sustainable development?

Agriculture and Rural Development
What are the consequences of the restructuring of food production, finance, energy and consumption patterns associated with green economy for employment, livelihood security and ecological sustainability in rural areas?

The provisional conference agenda is now available by clicking the link below. In addition to researchers from across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania, speakers include representatives of Cicero, Friends of the Earth International, IFAD, ILO, Oxfam International, The South Centre, UNEP, UNESCO, UNDP, UNRISD, WHO and the World Bank. Side events include an UNRISD Book Fair and the art exhibit "In the Bag: The Art and Politics of the Reusable Bag Movement".

Registration is open from 1 August to 1 September 2011. Please use the link on the right.

Please note that UNRISD cannot provide letters of invitation for visa purposes or funding to attend. The conference will be presented in English.

To download the Call for Papers in PDF, please use the link on the right.

The flyer and provisional agenda are available by clicking on the links below.