The Green Economy

The UNEP Magazine for Youth

for young people · by young people · about young people The green economy

Down to business

The mobile revolution

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 1 05/03/2012 09:34 TUNZA the UNEP magazine for youth. To view current CONTENTS and past issues of this publication online, Editorial 3 please visit www.unep.org Welcoming the green economy 4 United Nations Environment Programme Yes we can! 6 (UNEP) PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya Going viral 7 Tel (254 20) 7621 234 Fax (254 20) 7623 927 Down to business 8 Telex 22068 UNEP KE E-mail [email protected] Plan A 8 www.unep.org Starting a new venture? 10 ISSN 1727-8902 Green enterprise in Africa 11 Director of Publications Nick Nuttall Editor Geoffrey Lean The mobile revolution 12 Special Contributor Wondwosen Asnake Power to the people 14 Youth Editor Karen Eng Nairobi Coordinator Naomi Poulton From metropolis to megalopolis 16 Head, UNEP’s Children and Youth Unit Theodore Oben Green feeding 18 Circulation Manager Mohamed Atani Living together 20 Design Edward Cooper, Ecuador Production Banson Create the change you want 21 Cover image Surbana Urban Planning Group www.surbana.com Seven innovations 22

Youth contributors Manuel Aguilar (Guatemala); Heal the world 24 Anna Collins (UK); Kevin Ochieng (Kenya); Angus Joseph (South Africa); Zhan Hong Low (Singapore); Nilza Matavel (Mozambique); Keep up with TUNZA on your mobile Patricio Mora (Chile); Sonali Prasad (India); http://tunza.mobi Tipti (India); Robert vanWaarden (Netherlands); Caroline Wambui (Kenya). or on Facebook Other contributors Mike Barry (M&S); Jane www.facebook.com/TUNZAmagazine Bowbrick; Jason Clay (WWF); Georgina Guillén (UNEP/Wuppertal Institute CSCP); Su Kahumbu (iCow); Annie Leonard (The Story of Stuff); Kamal Quadir (bKash); Fulai Sheng (UNEP); Wayne Talbot (Kingswood Consultation); Rosey Simonds and David Woollcombe (Peace Child International).

Printed in Malta

The contents of this magazine do not necessarily refl ect UNEP and Bayer, the German- Painting Competition on the the views or policies of UNEP or the editors, nor are they based multinational involved in Environment, the UNEP Tunza an offi cial record. The designations employed and the health care, crop protection International Youth and Children’s presentation do not imply the expression of any opinion and high-tech materials, are working Conferences, youth environmental whatsoever on the part of UNEP concerning the legal status together to strengthen young networks in Africa, Asia Pacifi c, of any country, territory or city or its authority, or concerning people’s environmental awareness Europe, Latin America and the the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. and engage children and youth in Caribbean, North America and West environmental issues worldwide. Asia, the Bayer Young Environmental

Envoy Program and a photo UNEP promotes A partnership agreement, originally competition, ‘Ecology in Focus’, in environmentally sound practices globally and in its own activities. This signed in 2004 and renewed in 2007 Eastern Europe. magazine is printed on 100% chlorine-free and 2010, runs through 2013. It lays paper from sustainably managed forests, using down the basis for UNEP and Bayer The long-standing partnership between vegetable-based inks and other eco-friendly to implement the projects under the UNEP and Bayer has become a practices. Our distribution policy aims partnership. These include: TUNZA public-private partnership that serves to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint. Magazine, the International Children’s as a model for both organizations.

2 TUNZA Vol 9 No 4

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 2 05/03/2012 09:34 EDITORIAL he world’s media bombard us with news of a stalling world economy. A visit to the market Treminds us of rising food prices. Jobs are difﬁ cult to ﬁ nd, especially if you are young. Then there’s the price of fuel and the increasing scarcity of those earth metals essential to your laptop, tablet and mobile.

At the same time, we are told the world must ‘get back to growth’ – and many of us are assailed with demands to buy yet more stuff. But with ever more people in the world, doesn’t there seem to be a disconnect somewhere? The Ecological Footprint already suggests that we are using the resources of 1.5 planets to maintain current lifestyles – and for the majority, those lifestyles aren’t too great anyway.

UNEP is suggesting a different way – a transition to a green economy. What does that actually mean? Well, numbers UNEP defi nes it as: ‘Improving human well-being and social equity, while signifi cantly reducing environmental • Nearly 40 per cent of the world’s 211 million unemployed risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, people – more than 80 million – are aged 15-24. a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource effi cient and socially inclusive’. Does • In developed countries, one in four of the long-term that sounds fairer? unemployed are youths. We must develop ways of accurately measuring our • The world economy has quadrupled over the last 25 impacts on the environment, then include the costs, like years, but 60 per cent of the world’s major ecosystem the cost of pollution, in the price we pay for what we use. goods and services have been degraded or used Facing these real costs will encourage us to reduce the unsustainably. environmental impact of production and consumption. A lot of people are already working on that, whether • In 2006, more than 2.3 million people worldwide were WWF’s work on sustainable production or Marks & working in the renewable energy sector. Spencer’s determination to introduce sustainability throughout its supply chain (pages 8-9). • Emerging economies’ share of global investment in renewables rose from 29 per cent in 2007 to 40 per cent Then there’s the need to reduce our dependence on in 2008 – primarily in Brazil, China and India. fossils fuels. Switching to renewables will involve major new infrastructure, creating jobs and requiring new • The recycling industry in Brazil, China and the USA alone skills. But there are also smaller, locally appropriate employs at least 12 million people. possibilities that encourage job creation at a level that enables us all to get involved. • Processing recyclable materials sustains 10 times more jobs than landfi ll or incineration (on a per tonne basis). New technologies will help, too. These are introducing less polluting, less resource-dependent ways of doing • Only 25 per cent of the world’s waste is recovered or things – from bringing products to market, transferring recycled. The world market for waste is worth around money and receiving payments, to raising money to $410 billion a year. fi nance your own new green project.

• In Brazil, 95 per cent of all aluminum cans and 55 per UNEP believes that moving to a green economy cent of all polyethylene bottles are recycled, and half will enhance our efforts to achieve sustainability by of all paper and glass is recovered. This generates a improving human well-being and social equity, whilst value of almost $2 billion and avoids 10 million tonnes reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. of greenhouse gas emissions a year. Waste management Green growth is an opportunity to correct that dis- and recycling employ more than 500,000 people in Brazil. connect in ‘business-as-usual’. It involves all of us, and it is too important just to leave to governments. We all • Ecotourism has a 20 per cent annual growth rate, about have a part to play in our everyday lives, how we choose six times the rate for the rest of the sector. Travel and to spend our hard-earned money, what we discuss with tourism employ 230 million people – 8 per cent of the family and friends, and the messages we send, ahead of total global workforce. Rio+20, to the world’s politicians. Make your voice heard.

The green economy 3

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 3 05/03/2012 09:34 Welcoming the green economy

WHAT is meant by ‘green economy’? growth, there will be no new jobs, and governments won’t You can look at it in two ways, either as an economy that have additional revenue to spend on essential health respects green principles and is concerned with fairness services, education and social safety nets. and inclusiveness, or as one which increasingly invests in environmental technologies such as renewable energy, and Growth is generated by investment. Traditionally, this has natural capital such as productive soil, forests and water focused on highways, automobiles, oil and gas, buildings, resources. Either way, consumer preferences for environ- manufacturing, logging, fi shing etc. A green economy mentally friendly, socially responsible goods and services will promotes different sorts of investment – in public transport, help drive investment decisions. low-carbon vehicles, renewable energy, green buildings, clean technologies, sustainable forestry and the restoration YOUTH unemployment is high – will the green economy of fi shery stocks. create more jobs or is the focus on new technologies? According to UNEP’s 2011 Green Economy report, investing WITH natural resources already under pressure, how can 2 per cent of global GDP – about $1.3 trillion currently – we sustain that growth? Do we have to think differently? each year until 2050 in the greening of 10 economic sectors Technological development could address some resource would provide more jobs in the medium and long term than constraints, while changes to the way society organizes ‘business-as-usual’. itself could also reduce such constraints. For example, the development of renewable energy is picking, up with the In some sectors – public transport and renewable energy cost of solar technology declining by around 7 per cent a for example – there’s likely to be an increase in jobs, but year, making it increasingly competitive. Then there are new in others, such as fi sheries, there may be initial job losses technologies that could reclaim desert areas as agricultural if we are to prevent a total collapse of the industry. The land, as has happened in Kabuqi, China. key is to ensure that those affected are given training and opportunities for re-employment. Growth can be sustained, at least for a time, through investment in green technologies and ecosystem restoration. Where youth unemployment is exceptionally high, state- In China again, a ban on converting natural forests, and sponsored large-scale employment programmes may a policy of returning farmland to forests, has resulted in a be needed. A ‘green army’ could, for example, engage in net increase in forest cover, although the new forests host research and development, the restoration of damaged less biodiversity. ecosystems and the ‘greening’ of urban areas. As to changes in social organization, people in developed IS the green economy ‘good for growth’? If so, how? countries will have to reduce their personal resource Economic growth is the increase in the production of goods consumption – though they could increase their service- and services, and the income associated with that. Without intensive consumption, for example by hiring a car when they $ $ INVESTMENTS IN GREEN ENERGY $ $ $ $ CHINA is the world’s leading investor in renewable energy, spending $49 billion on it in 2010, and overall the country is committed to spending $468 billion during the next fi ve years on key industries including renewable energy, clean technologies and waste management. If you exclude the emerging economies of Brazil, China and India, countries in Africa have posted the highest percentage increase of all developing regions in renewable energy investments. In Kenya, for example, investment climbed from virtually zero in 2009 to $1.3 billion in 2010 across wind, geothermal, small-scale hydro and biofuel technologies.

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Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 4 05/03/2012 09:34 ts supporters believe that the green economy will improve human well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. TUNZA spoke to UNEP economist FULAI SHENG to ﬁ nd out exactly Ihow it might work, and how we can all help transform our societies.

need one rather than owning one or two or three – so that ants, while many poor people lack access to basic energy and consumption in developing countries can grow without an transport services. Greening infrastructure – by promoting overall global increase in resource use. renewable energy, public transport and a shift to low-carbon vehicles – could address these problems and generate a HOW do you persuade the private sector to embrace the large number of jobs that are urgently needed. China, for green economy? And what is the role of national and example, expects to create 2.5 million jobs in the wind energy international governance? sector alone by 2020. Corporations are beginning to move investment into the greening of economies: investments in renewable energy, WHAT happens next? How does green economy become mostly by the private sector, jumped by 32 per cent in 2010 to self-sustaining? a record $211 billion. And there is clear evidence of potential Rio+20 has the green economy as one of its two major themes, net savings and profi ts to be made from shifting investments, so governments have the opportunity to consider adopting it as adopting green management practices and making green a practical approach to deliver sustainable development and technologies more affordable and available. make commitments to coordinated action, such as reorient- ing investments towards the greening of their economies. Governments have a leadership role to play in setting standards and providing a level playing fi eld by, for example, To ensure that a green economy is fi nancially viable, gov- requiring fuel effi ciency standards for vehicles and reforming ernments need to reorganize public spending and allocate existing subsidies for fossil fuels, the fi shing industry and funds to making the transition. This includes shifting the tax water use, which currently encourage unsustainable behaviour. burden away from labour and income onto environmentally harmful activities. In addition, setting up innovative green- In addition, governments should provide access to education, fi nancing mechanisms such as green investment banks training, health care and social protection to ensure a fair and should be explored. just transition for people who are negatively affected by the green transformation. At the international level, the trade and CAN consumers help? intellectual property rights regimes can help by promoting When consumers shift to environmentally friendly and trade in environmental goods and services and by making socially responsible goods and services, they send a signal green technologies more accessible. to corporations and consequently infl uence investment decisions. As consumers, we also have to distinguish be- WHAT is the role of building infrastructure such as railways tween needs and wants. In societies where most of our needs or energy systems? are met, we must control our wants – as these can be un- Infrastructure is a good transformation entry point. The limited, while resources are not. Satisfying wants reduces the current energy and transport systems contribute signifi cantly availability of resources required to meet the basic needs of to greenhouse gas emissions and health-damaging pollut- the poor in many developing countries.

WHAT YOUTH CAN DO

YOUNG PEOPLE can lead a green consumer movement by changing their consumption habits. Take public transport, don’t use food outlets that waste huge amounts of food, and demand the trade-in of all your electronic gadgets. If you are already employed, be innovative: explore ways to save energy and other resources in your workplaces, including creating new lines of proﬁ ts and jobs through improving energy and resource efﬁ ciency. If you are unemployed, volunteer to help with ecosystem restoration or assist entrepreneurs to start small businesses that generate jobs and produce green goods and services.

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2 1 0 2 / 3 0 / 5 0 t, but also the people who will live who will live t, but also the people hat should be done about the area YOU live in?’ That’s the question the question in?’ That’s live YOU area be done about the hat should City Council Ltd and Hull Company Development Parks Kingswood the Bransholme 13-14 living in aged people young to put recently elds, the estate is quite run down as well as overpopulated. well as run down is quite elds, the estate adults what they need. Wayne Talbot facilitated the Kingswood Consultation, helping young people tell ‘W The kids took their job seriously. Working as a team, they developed and sent out and developed they as a team, Working their job seriously. The kids took but an get much feedback, No one thought they’d 800 of their peers. to a survey response This was a stunning answered. people of young amazing 25 per cent out of the thousands 300 questionnaires return managed to – adults had only be Action Plan to an Area created the group the results, From distributed! the City Council. to presented To community? vision of its future grand generation’s the younger So – what’s considered, but carefully surprise, not pizza joints and video arcades, everyone’s and parks, facilities recreation youth improvements: community-enhancing neighbourhood shops, and healthier paths, small cycle wildlife, for open spaces of all, the kids amazed grown- joints. Most fast-food replace to restaurants family as an well – as vegetables selling healthy see a grocer to ups with their desire their own! growing for allotment reputation that the estate’s clear The kids made it Security was a main theme, too. and and drug dealing was exaggerated such as vandalism antisocial behaviour for up with came nevertheless but they handful of people, by a small caused mainly open ‘More perceptions. unfair and other people’s change both the reality ideas to Hull and how looks the area how transforming way towards will go a long space parks and street included spruced-up said. Their suggestions they is branded,’ as CCTV go – as well to fun places people young give to facilities more furniture, patrols. and police come. to the needs of generations considered people the young remarkably, Most as as well facilities adult recreation for be affordable, housing to for asked They ‘We of employment. source a local provide to space retail and for facilities, youth their houses more after look to people for it possible help make to like would us that will beneﬁ not only said. ‘It’s they easily,’ and Kingswood areas of Hull, UK. They thought young people should have a voice a voice should have people thought young UK. They of Hull, areas and Kingswood put it: ‘It’s themselves And as the youth community. of their in the development when we this community inherit we’ll input because our have to important really adults!’ become to of Arts, responded College at the Kingswood pupils people, young Thirty keen housing estates in one of the largest generation the younger represent to the call population of 26,000, which has a in the 1960s and 1970s for in the UK. It was built and roads and opportunities by main services Cut off from 30,000. to grown now ﬁ in the future.’ here and the City Council and spent a morning presenting their plan to took The team have will and planners councillors debating their ideas and solutions. Of course, feedback youth for but having asked account, opinions into all community take to College Kingswood reply, and comprehensive such a well-considered and received said: ‘Brilliant; very As one councillor ignore. to impossible will be voices youth impressive!’ of stage meetings on the next to invited already are Some of the group results, equipped with their own join in the conversation They’ll development. with adults what they discuss about planning, and with all the skills to informed and in the future. need – now

Hull City Council Ty Milford/Aurora/Specialist Stock S. Horncastle/www.geograph.org.uk/CC2.0 Zoonar/Specialist Stock Hull City Council

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n December 2007, ANNIE LEONARD’s 20-minute animated documentary called The Story of Stuff – which looks at how consumer society affects us and the planet – hit the internet. It instantly went viral, generating 50,000 views on Iday one. Today, it’s had 15 million views across the planet, and interest seems to be gaining momentum. There’s a Story of Stuff book, seven more free ﬁ lms at storyofstuff.org, and more ﬁ lms in the making. TUNZA spoke to Annie, who told us the secrets of her runaway success.

eople responded so well to engagement. I ask people, ‘What Make a different metric than GDP The Story of Stuff for several do you think you can do?’ I always by which we can measure success? Preasons. One was timing: the get the reply: ‘Recycle, ride my Share stuff – a key to the real green economy was collapsing, and there bike, compost’… all wonderful, but economy – so we can use fewer was increasing awareness of species that’s being a responsible citizen, resources. And sharing helps build loss and climate change. It tapped NOT how we make change. A lot of community. into a growing sense of unease, environmental groups reinforce this telling the truth while mainstream with lists of 10 simple things you can What gives me hope? One: it’s media kept saying: ‘There’s no do to save the planet. There ARE no technically possible. There’s a pleth- problem. Go shopping!’ 10 simple things! It’s a big, complex ora of solutions available. Two: problem! change is inevitable. We are up But it was also the simplicity of the against the limits of sustainability. cartoons, an antidote to the serious- Nagging is ‘individualization of the Three: people already want to be ness of the information. Images of problem’, and of course we have part of the solution and are taking belching smokestacks and starving individual responsibility, but the action. And the kinds of solutions children shut people down, and broader system rewards environ- we need in order to keep living on we needed audiences to remain mentally destructive behaviour. We this planet – sharing, making healthy open. And ‘SoS’ provided people an need to change the system so that products, getting involved in civic easy vocabulary to talk about these doing the right thing becomes the acti vities – all make life more fun! issues. One student said typical dis- default. People should have to go So why not? course around environ ment was like out of their way to trash the planet, ‘a speeding train’. She didn’t know instead of vice versa. how to board. What I see missing is people’s sense We must meet people where they are. of collective, systemic change. When ﬁ rst developing the SoS talk, Instead of incremental things like I used the biggest words I could turning off the light, how about if to make myself sound smart. But I we collectively ban toxic chemicals? discovered that, faced with words or concepts they didn’t know, people felt dumb, so they didn’t want to participate. I was also told I wasn’t funny, didn’t smile... No wonder no one had listened to me for 20 years!

Our next ﬁ lms will be about solutions. The Story of Making Change will be a call for collective citizen

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‘We are not the only ones pursuing across-the-board sustainability – Unilever, Coca Cola, Nike, Walmart and Mars are too – but none of us can do it alone. The World Economic Forum has established a platform for chief executives to work together, and the Sustainability Consortium is developing scientiﬁ c solutions so that businesses can take more standard approaches to carbon and water footprints and waste management, rather than doing different things and spreading confusion and inefﬁ ciency.

Guiding consumer choice ‘We are also taking consumers on the journey. Ten per cent of consumers around the world are environmentally self- motivated, but 65 per cent share many of their concerns M&S but don’t know where to start. They recycle and don’t waste food, but don’t want to get involved with complex decisions about climate change or factories in China. They want us to becomes a waste, where only sustainable raw materials are do the hard work for them on most of our 180 commitments. used and where human life is improved wherever business However, where they can collectively, in their millions, make touches it. a difference (e.g. recycling used clothing or packaging), they will join the journey if we make it simple and rewarding for ‘Many of the solutions required to make business signiﬁ cantly them to do so. more sustainable already exist. What we need now though is a commitment to go from piloting these solutions to scaling ‘All of this helps the environment, bit by bit. But it’s not them up rapidly. At an intergovernmental level, perhaps if enough to deal with the planetary scale of the crisis. Many 100 business leaders stood at Rio+20 committed to forests, business leaders recognize that whatever your morals water and social issues, it could galvanize change. Business or ethics, without the planet, we have no business. So we can make a difference, and prove within a decade that there need true innovation to come up with radical new business can be a radically different business model – better for the models. Not tomorrow, but by 2020, we need the ground planet and its people. Business may be part of the problem, rules of a very different economic system to be put into but it’s now got a road map to make a big contribution to place: one that is a closed loop, ensuring no product ever developing a sustainable future.’

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ask: Who could help me to make this make help me to ask: Who could vision happen, and why? on have business What impact will my the environment? cycle life product’s What does your a pioneer of InterfaceFlor, like? look to possible it’s realized sustainability, create to old carpets from use fabric programme take-back ones. Their new materials on raw saves not only but also reduces recycling, through pollution and landﬁ other types of help generate can collecting carpet like businesses, services. products sustainable Does offering costs? higher production imply what some consumers No matter ‘no’. is think, the answer currently chain is sustainable value If your could costs operating the start, from And as both national and be lower. and tighten regulations international being un- demand grows, consumer risk for will be the biggest sustainable any business. of green- accusations do I avoid How washing and insincerity? are and accountability Transparency report, than a glossy but more vital, But results. want tangible consumers crucial – talk still are communications and understand customers your to to listen on sustainability, their views know and you’ll what their needs are, engage with them. to how Proyecta Memoria Proyecta tability, while an while tability, t? rst step is making a business plan, working through ﬁ through plan, working is making a business step rst t, you may also want to t, you 0 1 9 No 4 Vol

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3 v g n cations to inform consumers and consumers inform to cations 10 Besides consulting the MDGs, ask such Besides consulting social equity as: What around questions in … years like look will this community set the period), and what will my(you this vision? to contribute do to business is business whom your understand To benefi to likely What impact will my business have? have? What impact will my business Will society benefi What are my consumers expecting? my consumers What are per- the consumer’s Understanding insights. valuable provides spective started businesses sustainable Most consumers’ solutions to as creative needs. William Kamkwamba started mater- building windmills using scrap homes in his light to provide ials to village in Malawi. Mohammed Yunnus’ poor scheme enabled micro-credit amounts to small borrow to people businesses. their own start With that in mind, ask the following With that in mind, ask the following questions: Sustainability is an ideal, but the Sustainability and certi- of standards emergence fi decision making port them in their sup individuals are is a sign that more of sustainability. aware becoming is normally performance Economic by profi measured perform- environmental enterprise’s by its use of be measured can ance and the impact resources natural of its activities on the environment. is The social aspect of sustainability quantify, but thinking about to harder contribute could business ways your Goals Development the Millennium to (MDGs) is a start. posi tive impact on society. It also impact on society. tive posi its impacts on tomorrow’s considers of helping them societies and ways meet their needs. A

Of course the ﬁ Of course sustainable a creating But what does and technical feasibility. viability the UNEP/Wuppertal for GEORGINA GUILLÉN, a consultant enterprise mean? and Consumption and Production Center on Sustainable Collaborating Institute to ask crucial questions a few offers innovation, in sustainable PhD researcher business. your develop as you yourself Starting a new venture? a new Starting E _ 4 . 9 _

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9 K. Ochieng . 4 _ E reducing landfi tures, savingmoney andenergy onbuildingmaterials, areas, play natural andmanmadedisasters to build parks,pedestrian Proyecta Memoriareuses andrecycles rubble created by Patricio Mora, Chile organizations. donated to sup one saysthere’s acool alternative to cotton. Profi fans online,andpeople vote for theirfavourites. Wearing shirts carry anenvironmental message: designscome from carbon emissions thanmakingcotton t-shirts.AllQloov uses upto 70percent less energy with30percent lower One shirtusesupto 12bottles, andourproduction process QLoov makes t-shirtsfrom 100percent recycled PETbottles. Zhan HongLow, Singapore open source, soothers can joinus. are withoutelectricity. Quetsolisalsomakingitsknowledge reach more people –more than1.5billionaround theworld tend to take care ofwhatthey own andwe needprofi microfi candles. Customers payaround $240–butcan take out and laptops atless expense thanthelong-term cost of villagers inGuatemala to power lightsandcharge mobiles Quetsol provides micro-scale solar power systems to rural Manuel Aguilar,Guatemala YOUR projects economy in Africa –andbeyond. how hehopesGreenstarter willcontributetothegreen economically sustainableprojects. Hetells TUNZA allabout vators withtheresources tolaunch environmentally and vative onlineplatformthatwillprovide young African inno- member –ishard atwork onGreenstarter.net, aninno- KEVIN OCHIENG–former Tunza Youth Advisory Council 2010. of alocal church destroyed intheearthquake of27February project –anopen-airchapelinArauco builtwiththeremains memories andidentity. We’re currently developing ourpilot spaces, butmost importantly preserving acommunity’s n g v 3 . i n d www.proyectamemoria.cl nance loans through partnerorganizations. People d

1 1 grounds, street furniture andotherpublicstruc- www.qloov.com ll, andreha port ECOSingapore andotherenvironmental bili tating andbeautifyingdamaged www.quetsol.com Green enterprisein Africa t are ts ts to ts ‘O it alone.’ thataccommodate eachother.solutions do cannot Africa Africa. We are, afterall, in need of aglobalcommunity ‘Once off, thistakes Ihopetoexpand thisideabeyond pressing socioeconomicand environmental challenges. to generatedsolutions topromotelocally community youth among andaninvestmentAfrican inspires action soon begincoding. MygreathopeisthatGreenstarter initsearlystages: we’veis still fi isthefutureofgreeneconomy.preneurship The site social entre- self-sustaining businessesbecause sustaining ‘We’re offasself- reallytake thatcan focusedonprojects they back.projects also have away aroundthe community tocreateasupport andcredibility. viability project helping togauge They’ll seehow arerespondingtoprojects,they siteusers can systemwhere news andinformation,project andarating willhave Backers function. status-report accesstoupdates, theamountofmoney raised, bar toindicate andaproject Facebook and Twitter. There willalsobeafundingstatus ideasandopinionsfromsitevisitors,to gather linked to documents, photosandvideostoahomepage, withaspace willbeabletouploadproject and generalvisitors. Starters philanthropistsandglobalinvestorssmall-scale (backers), (starters), andtheirnetworks offriends leaders project ‘Our willbeyoung mainusers and socialentrepreneurs across makingiteasytofi Africa, to.contributed Youth-led willbemapped greenenterprise documented tomoderateprogress, voted onand beuploaded, andcontinuously these ideascan carefully outforgreenideas!Onoursite,the world reallyiscrying isgreat, projects. Butwhileart com focusonfundingart withtheirdollars.on thebestproject Siteslike Kickstarter. $50toaproject, contribute andvote of peoplewhocan of sense, asliterallyanyone invest. can There aremillions become extremely popularinrecentyears, andmakes alot –has ofpeopletofundprojects numbers money fromlarge ‘Crowdfunding ofaskingforsmallsums –thepractice from professionalsandexperts, butalsointermsoffunding. improving projects, andfeedback linkswithsimilarprojects crowdsourcing for –notonlyintermsofsuggestions resources throughanopenonlinec young with Our aimistoconnect entrepreneurs African inthegreeneconomy. businessesandprojects starter investmentto attract andpromoteaccesstomarkets for ‘That’s anonlineplatform why anITteamandIarecreating having toearnaliving. when theyoung of peoplegraduateandfacethereality too oftenthey aredroppedforlackoffi ideas in especiallycoming from youngAfrica, people, but world-changing, grown business andsustainable locally solutions. There aremany excellent, potentially economy istheneedforregionallyappropriate ne ofthegreatestchallengesgreen nd projects geographically.nd projects nished the designandwill all for support – or –or all forsupport nancial backing backing nancial The green economy 0 5 11 / 0 3 / 2 0 1 2

0 9 : 3 4 The mobile revolution MOBILE PHONES have emerged as an important economic tool for millions living in less developed, rural or remote areas, with little or no access to traditional bank infrastructure or the internet. This is a prime example of technological ‘leapfrogging’ allowing rapid change. In developing economies, mobiles are most famously being used as an alternative to traditional banking, enabling people to send and receive money. They’re also used to buy and sell goods, disseminate information and help people ﬁ nd work. TUNZA spoke to Kamal Quadir and Su Kahumbu, two entrepreneurs who are using mobile phones in innovative ways, improving lives and helping the environment. MARKETS AND MONEY

AMAL QUADIR, the World Economic Forum’s 2009 ‘Giving people control was also my aim with CellBazaar, a Young Global Leader, has engaged millions of mobile virtual marketplace. Using various platforms, from Kpeople in Bangladesh through CellBazaar, a mobile- simple SMS through 3G wireless to web browsers and voice, commerce site that allows people to buy and sell goods, users may log into the system to buy and sell all manner of look for jobs and check commodity prices by phone. He is goods, from appliances and vehicles to IT and photography now working on bKash, a mobile-banking platform. services, clothing and real estate – and jobs are advertised here, too. Farmers, even those in remote areas, can use the ‘Bangladesh has a population of 160 million people, most of site to sell their produce. whom do not have access to the internet or regular media, and 60 per cent of whom don’t have electricity. At the same ‘Services like bKash and CellBazaar serve people at different time, Bangladesh is one of the best-networked countries in income levels, and it’s important to remember that not all of the world: nearly all Bangladeshis have mobile phones. Yet Bangladesh is in dire poverty. In fact it boasts a fairly large fewer than 10 per cent of people have access to conventional middle class, particularly among the developing countries. banks! So how can we help bring all these people into the So the level of poverty bKash addresses is a level above 21st century economy? With bKash (in Bengali, bikash means starvation, a level at which, if you apply technology, people blooming or prosperity), which I’ve been developing since 2008 can be helped to rise to higher prosperity. in partnership with BRAC Bank, we are bridging the gap by creating ﬁ nancial services for the other 90 per cent. ‘Sustainability should be the key for any socially motivated initiative. Even small-value creations, when accumulated, ‘The bKash scheme is all about empowering people with can generate a meaningful impact. One of our strategies is money. I always say that the beginning of saving is the ending employing thousands of people to go door to door, teaching of poverty. When you save a dollar, you are making provision millions of others how to use mobile banking. There’s a two- for your future, rather than living hand-to-mouth, which is fold beneﬁ t here: we create employment, and offer people mere survival. A service like bKash is especially empowering hands-on experience of the technology, the fastest way of for Bangladeshi women. When they earn money from working teaching and learning. at, say, a textile factory, they typically give it to their husbands, brothers or fathers because they don’t have a place to save. In Bangladesh, one initiative may engage millions of people. With their mobile phones and bKash, such women are given Though it may only generate one dollar per person, it gene- control over their own money, and therefore their own lives. rates a million dollars of value, which is deeply satisfying.’

robably the best-known mobile banking phenomenon terrain and far-ﬂ ung settlements, where its operator, Pis Kenya’s M-PESA, operated by Safaricom, an afﬁ liate Roshan, additionally used the system to transfer wages of of Vodaphone. Users visit corner shops – far more common government employees. Now Vodaphone plans to launch than banks – to purchase a card with cash and enter a code the platform in India and Egypt. In the Philippines, similar into their mobiles, and can then transfer the money to any m-banking solutions include Smart Communications’ Smart other mobile user, who can withdraw the cash at a bank, Money, which through a tie-up with MasterCard doubles as ATM or their local shop. M-PESA accounts are also used to a debit card, and Globe Telecom’s Gcash. A Kenyan ser- pay bills, purchase airtime and buy goods at participating vice called Pesapal, which emerged after M-PESA, allows merchants. M-PESA has been rolled out in Tanzania, South Kenyans to accept Visa payments from abroad, further Africa and Afghanistan, a large country with challenging expanding opportunities for selling goods and services.

12 TUNZA Vol 9 No 4

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 12 05/03/2012 09:34 he auuePooBnl/pcaitSokTnKeeLnarSilPcue uKhmuio K.M. Asad/Majority World/Still Pictu Su Kahumbu/iCow Ton Koene/Lineair/Still Pictures Shoeb Faruquee/Photo Bangla/Specialist Stock LIVESTOCK SKILLS

armer, agriculturalist and social entrepreneur SU KAHUMBU works in Kenya. Her iCow text- and Fvoice-based mobile app helps livestock farmers care for their cows, reminding small-scale dairy farmers of important points in their cows’ gestation – information they used to have to get by contacting specialists. iCow supplies this information to registered farmers, prompting them on what to do and when. But, as Su explains, its potential is more far-reaching.

‘As farmers continue telling us what their needs are, we’ve developed more features, such as a livestock and produce market. Farmers may post details of animals for sale on iCow, and the platform also helps small farmers who have small amounts of produce – such as goats’ milk – aggregate their goods for sale to bulk buyers. It also acts as a search service for vets and artiﬁ cial-insemination providers, and offers tips and information on feeding practices, disease control and so on.

‘iCow doesn’t just serve farmers, but gives many stakeholders in the agricultural sector access to farmers. The app is being used to gather and pass on crucial information about disease outbreaks, for example, so that local offi cials and farmers can react quickly. iCow also offers other information to farmers, such as vaccination availability or details of fi nancial services, agricultural fi eld days and exhibition events.

‘I originally got the idea of putting agricultural information on mobiles as a way to get information to young people interested in farming. The average age of farmers all over the world is high – in Kenya, it’s 48 – and it’s crucial that we nurture a new generation of farmers. There is rising interest in agriculture among the young, many of whom are not born into farming, and so don’t have the knowledge. Mobile phones are an excellent education platform, as it’s a widely used technology.

‘Right now iCow has about 5,000 users across Kenya, but we’re reaching out to more, planning a mass roll- out across mobile networks. We hope to have more than a million farmers on the platform within the next two years. iCow, which won ﬁ rst prize in the 2010 Apps4Africa competition, is actually a small part of a much larger original idea – mKulima, a voice-based agricultural ency- clopædia accessible via mobile. This is still in development but will now be launched under the iCow brand. A million farmers may seem a lot, but remember Kenya is a nation of 14 million people, of whom 70 per cent are involved in agriculture. So it’s a target that should be easily surpassed.’ res

The green economy 13

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 13 05/03/2012 09:34 T u n z a _ 9 . 4 _ E African and Middle Eastern needs, but African andMiddle Easternneeds,but green electricity notonlytomeetNorth across thedesert,creating enough network ofsolarthermalpower systems ambitious plantobuildaninternational Desertec, ﬁ a year. Why notharness this power? in sixhoursastheentireworld usesin – receives asmuch energyfromthesun measures 9millionsquarekilometres I A SLICEOFSUN TO POWER TWO CONTINENTS T Power tothepeople of usstill rely ontraditional biomass for cooking and numbers ofpeople needenergy –almost 40percent fuels isrisingwhile stocks are limited andincreasing know-how. Anditisinevitable because thecost offossil It isalready technically possible because we have the raising livingstandards for all. way towards makingdevelopment truly sustainable –and growth from inexorably risingemissions willgoalong from sun,wind,water andbiomass. Separating economic transitioning towards renewable low-carbon alternatives world ismakingreal andincreasingly rapid progress in all greenhouse gasemissions. Thegoodnews isthatthe 14 n g of, it’s sun. The Sahara desert–which f there’s one thing Africa hasplenty v 3 TUNZA . i n d energy –whichaccounts for around 60percent of is thatwe still rely primarily onfossil fuelsfor here’s bad news andgoodnews. Thebadnews d Methane (CH 17%

Nitrous oxide (N Vol 9No 4 1 14% Agriculture 4 13% Transport rst announced in 2009, is an rst announcedin2009,is an buildings and commercial Residential The most importantgreenhouse gases... 4 ) ...and where they come from 8% 2 O) Forestry Forestry 8% wastewater Waste and 17% (e.g. chlorine) Halocarbons 3% 1% Energy supply Industry Source: IPCC solar farm of the network is beginning solar farmofthe network isbeginning to generate power. In2012,the fi concentrate heat,which turnsturbines technology usesparabolic mirrorsto creates electricalcurrent.Instead, the voltaic solarenergy, which directly Desertec won’t bebasedonphoto- electricity by 2050. provide atleast15percentofEurope’s direct currentpower lines. The hopeisto to exportitEuropeviahigh-voltage Carbon dioxide (CO 26% 19% 2 ) 74% can pushfor changeatahigherlevel. local, nationalandinternational initiatives andleaders who our schoolsorworkplaces to doso–andgettingbehind offers itorinstalling systems ofourown, orencouraging possible –whetherit’s buyingpower from acompany that citizens can doisinvest inrenewable energy whenever But asever, it’s upto allofus.Thebest thing ordinary third –by2050. savings ingreenhouse gasemissions –upto more thana it’s possible for theworld to getontheroad to substantial right circumstances andwithenoughgovernment support, 80 percent oftheworld‘s energy supply by2050.Underthe going, renewables could, ifbacked bypublicpolicy,provide like itornot–changetakes time.Still,attherate we’re obstacles are political willandfossil fuelsubsidies,and– So ifwe must andwe can, what’s theproblem? Themain systems despite theirlower capacity. need, renewables can winoutover traditional energy now take just three months,sowhere there isimmediate power plantfi power planttakes upto 15years to buildandacoal-fi 155 are plannedand339are proposed. However, anuclear around theworld, 60new plantsare underconstruction, power. Nonetheless 440nuclear power stations are working have recently reminded people ofthedangers ofnuclear Accidents like thepost-earthquake Fukushima meltdown and more pollutingones. straight to advanced technologies, skippingless effi known asleapfrogging, where are beinginstalled indeveloping countries, aphenomenon more than50percent ofrenewable energy technologies the equivalent power of15nuclear reactors. Interestingly, projected to riseto 50GW around theglobe, generating increase over oneyear –andphotovoltaic installations are 17.5 gigawattsofsolarenergy installed –a130percent Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change,2010saw unlimited. According to aMay2011report released bythe electricity –yet thepotential for renewable technology is 25 percent donothave access to areliable supply of rst rst ve years, while amid-sizedsolarplant can

Desertec on toparticipate. of Ouarzazate. Algeria hasalsosigned construction inMorocco,nearthecity devel oping economies cient move red red 0 5 / 0 3 / 2 0 1 2

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US Dept of Energy 2 / 3 0 / 15 5 0 ve years – years ve Barefoot College Barefoot The green economy The green tion signs, making assembly and tted with solar-powered digital tted with solar-powered ma ing out solar-powered replacements ing out solar-powered placement easy because of the lack placement easy because of the lack Native winds Native In the United States, American Native tribes are increasingly turning as a to wind power of energy and source a route to economic of Many development. 700 tribes the country’s Alaskan and Native villages are located on lands with excellent and wind resources potential. development as the Rosebud Some tribes, such already Sioux in South Dakota, have erected a They taken the plunge. a turbine that powers 750-kilowatt casino and the excess clean energy for local goes to an electric company wind farm is now A 30-megawatt use. under development. requiring energy. European cities are requiring energy. try a greener infra- as a step towards structure. In South Holland, a province of the Netherlands, bus stops are now being ﬁ infor re of cables.

altE Store, Inc S. Lessord, Renewable Rochester Inaccessible, remote and off-grid villages are selected and and off-grid villages are selected and Inaccessible, remote concept of solar lighting. If the village introduced to the a committee is formed to help identify agrees to participate, households pay These solar lighting. households that want and the a sense of ownership, to give a small monthly fee, Electronic as a Rural building to serve village donates a College The be stored. components can where Workshop, – to be Barefoot Solar Engineers selects village members repair and maintenance – who responsible for installation, Rajasthan, Tilonia, in to the Barefoot College campus travel village, earning the then return to serve They to be trained. for a period of at least ﬁ income – usually extra farming, it’s whether on top of their normal occupation, helps to keep skills within This animal husbandry or craft. Engineers also urban migration. communities and prevents in other communities. help replicate the programme ful xed solar Sun lights Bus stops, streetlights and parking meters: all small, but all necessary and Micro-hydro could be the answer to could be the answer Micro-hydro problem. In the Philippines, for your 10,000 villages cannot example, over The grid. the power by be reached installations. solution is micro-hydro a capacity of up to 35 kilowatts, With and small rivers they typically straddle local by and operated can be owned communities. cient.

MIT beautiful fth of the is ting hundreds of thousands of people. Who does Who of people. ting hundreds of thousands 5 1

d d n o power? No problem! Here Here No problem! o power? solutions green a few are energy units have been created, installed, repaired and been created, installed, repaired energy units have cross 751 villages in India, more than 14,800 ﬁ cross 751 villages in i .

3 v g n maintained, lighting thousands of households and schools thousands of households and schools maintained, lighting and benefi a power shipped in by volunteers Foreign all this work? Founded in 1972, Barefoot College offers rural communities in 1972, Barefoot College offers rural Founded health as energy, to meet their basic needs such a chance their people, experts from among training by care and water the poorest even empowering and them ownership giving and communities to be self-suffi individuals non-governmental organization? No, it’s the Barefoot Solar the No, it’s organization? non-governmental communities, mostly from poor rural Engineers – people are who youth, and unemployed often women illiterate, community-develop- by in solar energy installation trained ment project Barefoot College. that people have implemented as as implemented have that people grid to a standard alternatives infrastructure. Mini-hydro a river but have power, have Don’t property? your or creek running by reverse osmosis process to remove osmosis process to remove reverse contaminants, using a fi energy required by standard equipment energy required by diesel. by powered Solar salt-to-freshwater and other off-grid In the Maldives water island communities, brackish solar- can be a health hazard. Now a by pumping systems, powered driven solar panel measuring single 100-watt just 1 square metre, can daily draw up and through a 500 litres of water N Small A BAREFOOT COLLEGE SOLAR ENGINEERS COLLEGE BAREFOOT E _ 4 . 9 _

z n

u T From metropolis to megalopolis

entres of cultural activity, engines of wealth and technological innovation, but also of poverty and environmental degradation, cities embody both the Cworld’s greatest hope and its greatest challenge to sustainable living. Why? Cities consume 75 per cent of the Earth’s natural resources while occupying just 2 per cent of the planet’s terrestrial surface. And in an astonishingly short period, we’ve become a world of city dwellers: in 1950, a third of the world’s population lived in cities; by 2000, the proportion had grown to half; and by 2008 the majority of us had become urban citizens. This trend is projected to continue: two-thirds, or 6 billion people, will be living in cities by 2050.

Cities are getting bigger, too: the number of cities with more than 1 million people went from 11 in 1900 to 378 in 2000. By 2025, experts expect the number to increase to around 600, of which almost 500 will be in developing countries.

So greener cities will become an ever more important focal point for human and environmental well-being and development. The good news is that emerging cities have the opportunity to develop more efﬁ cient buildings, systems and infrastructures than the older ones – essentially learning from past experience, whether positive or negative. Meanwhile, our older cities are not standing still. They, too, are seeking ways to green themselves. Here are a few creative examples addressing some of the many possible qualities that might help make a city more sustainable. Bringing life to Better biking abandoned buildings Ancient building techniques

Kris Ablan Richard J. Andersen, www.luximages.co.uk In 1999, Marikina, one of the 17 When members of the Invisible Circus cities that make up the Manila – a per forming arts group in Bristol, metropolitan area in the Philippines, UK, that specializes in staging wild Peru Brujo began developing a bike network and colourful shows in abandoned along riverbanks as well as roadways The beautiful mud-brick buildings buildings – began squatting in a to provide an alternative to motorized of Djenné, in Mali, demonstrate disused car showroom, they took it public transport. With the help of how building with earth – including upon themselves to transform this a grant from the World Bank, 52 adobe, rammed earth and so on – neglected, run-down space into a kilometres of cycle paths have been remains a tried and true, eco-friendly showcase of local art and a pub- built so far, connecting residential way to create shelter in arid regions. licly accessible venue for ﬁ lm nights, communities with schools, markets The bricks, called ferey, are made of workshops, talks, rehearsals and, of and workplaces. With the help of a sand, clay and organic materials such course, jaw-dropping live perfor- government-sponsored education and as rice husks, then baked in the sun. mances. The community responded bike-loan programme, the network has Coated with mud plaster, they create with enthusiasm and, in partnership had the effect of more than doubling thick walls that naturally provide with Bristol City Council and others, the number of bicycles in Manila insulation from heat during the day the team formed Artspace/Lifespace, trafﬁ c. Half of all households now and keep interiors warm at night. The an artist-led organization that trans- own at least one bike, and cycling city of Djenné, with its spectacular forms underused and problem pro- has become accepted and popular as mud-brick Great Mosque, is protected perties into vibrant, self-supporting journey times are cut. as a UNESCO World Heritage site. creative centres.

16 TUNZA Vol 9 No 4

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 16 05/03/2012 09:34 YOUTH AND THE CITY oung people make up nearly 40 per cent of the world’s care – all of which can fuel political unrest. Policy makers

unemployed, but if the collective energy and creativity are trying to help, and the need to create employment Rurukina/ﬂ Yof youth could be harnessed, think how much could opportunities for young people is speciﬁ cally addressed be accomplished! Around 85 per cent of young people in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG 1, Target 1b).

live in developing countries, and many from rural areas The Youth Employment Network (YEN) – a partnership ickr migrate to cities seeking opportunities. Once there, they between the UN, the International Labour Organization and ﬁ nd fewer job openings than job-seekers, so many are the World Bank – advocates prioritizing youth employment forced to work informally at whatever they can ﬁ nd, and live on development agendas, works with young people to pilot in slums, particularly in countries such as Benin, Burkina entrepreneurial projects, and supports such strategies as Faso, Central African Republic, Chad and Ethiopia. If these microcredit schemes, vocational and entrepreneurship large numbers of unemployed youth go unaided, they are training, and information and com munication technology likely to become trapped in poverty, are at risk of being skills training. With perseverance, such efforts will help exploited, and have little access to education and health make cities hubs of hope for young people.

New urbanism

Rurbanism Caring construction

Christine G.H. Franck One way out of smoke-choked city traffi c jams is to live in a neigh- Andy Kaye bourhood packed compactly with What if we were to take the greening everything you need – homes, shops, Verbraucherportal Hauskauf.de of urban spaces even more seriously schools, workplaces, recreation and PassivHaus is a construction standard and bring together urban and rural civic facilities – all ideally within that produces such well insulated life, closely interweaving rice paddies, a 10-minute walk. That’s what’s buildings that they don’t need air- fi sh ponds and vegetable gardens envisioned by the urban design conditioning in summer or heating into high-effi ciency, densely packed movement ‘new urbanism’, which during the winter, even in regions with and ultra-modern urban apartment emerged in the 1980s. It proposes extreme temperatures. Developed in blocks? It’s a plan already in the mixed-use retail/residential properties, the 1980s in Europe, where the tech- works for Panjim, the capital of Goa, town squares or centres, increased nology is most popular, Passive- India. In 2001, a team made up of housing density, more green space for Haus designs use ‘passive’ solar design, sustainability and development wildlife and recreation and, above all, technology such as windows orien- experts undertook a research project pedestrian-friendly city design. In the ted towards the sun, walls that absorb to transform an existing city into a new urban vision, parking lots would and distribute heat, and roof over- sustainable city, settling on Panjim be turned into parks, bicycles would be hangs designed to shade windows because it already has a high quality easily accessible and foot traffi c would from heat, depending on the needs of life and a strong enough institutional help local businesses thrive. There are of the site. Houses are airtight and base to support the transformation. hundreds of new urban projects being typically fi tted with double- or triple- Research into the city’s natural re- built or planned in the United States. glazed windows and insu lated doors, sources and its demographic, social The most famous completed project is but are often equipped with a special and economic structure showed that Seaside, Florida, featured in the fi lm ventilation system that captures heat the transition could be made in 30 The Truman Show, while examples from inside the building and uses it to years, and that the better-designed city in Europe – where the corresponding warm fresh air coming in. Buildings would lead not only to fresh air, locally movement is called ‘urban village’ certifi ed to PassivHaus stan dard in the grown food and the regeneration of – include Poundbury, England and European Union and United States can surrounding landscapes, but would Jakriborg, Sweden. Elsewhere in the consume up to 90 times less energy save its citizens precious time, leaving world, new urbanist developments to cool, heat and light than standard more for work, childcare, education include Melrose Arch in Johannesburg new buildings. and leisure activities. and Cobourg, Ontario, Canada.

The green economy 17

Tunza_9.4_Engv3.indd 17 05/03/2012 09:35 T u n z a _ 9 . 4

_ Scevenels/UNEP A. Hartl/Blickwinkel/Still Pictures E agricultural certifi agricultural commodity’s supply chain–from farmer to consumer –more sustainable. Astimegoeson,increasing numbers of the last 20years, leaders invarious agricultural sectors have setupecolabels –certifi www.ascworldwide.org people enjoy itfree ofguilt. products, while creating aconsumer labelthatwillhelp global ecolabels to seekoutasyou make your choices. you know whatyou’re buying,asconsumers playakey role inthegreen economy. Meanwhile, here are afew ofthemajor launched, covering everything from fair trade through fi Green feeding to increase theavailability ofcertifi shrimp, bivalves, freshwater trout andabalone. Itaims – includingthosefor theproduction oftilapia,salmon, Initiative), theASCiscurrently still developing itsstandards organization) andIDH(theNetherlandsSustainable Trade Established in2009byWWF(theglobal con servation food ashumanpopulationsgrow andfi a majorrole inproviding asustainable alternative to wildsea- environmental effect, butcarried outresponsibly, itcan play Aquaculture istoo often demonizedashavinganegative Aquaculture Stewardship Council(ASC) A 18 n g v 3 It can beoverwhelming to stay aware ofwhattheseare andthestandards they set,butit’s worth doingresearch sothat ecosystems: defores discussion ofgreen economy wouldn’t becomplete withoutconsidering agriculture, whichhasmassive impactsonour TUNZA . i n d d

Vol 9No 4 1 8 cation programmes –aswell asthosefor energy effi tation, pesticidesandfertilizer sheries are depleted. ed sustainable fi sh to forests andbeyond. s, livestock sh www.rspo.org least harmpossible to theenvironment. implement global standards for palmoilthatensure the zations andsocialordevelopmental ones–to develop and investors, environmental ornature conservation organi- consumer goodsmanufacturers, retailers, banks and the palmoilindustry – producers, processors ortraders, standards. Itconvenes stakeholders from seven sectors of use ofsustainable palmoilproducts through credible global established theRSPOin2004to promote thegrowth and to biodiversity loss andcarbon dioxide emissions. WWF involves clearing rainforest andpeatland,whichcontributes also indemandasabiofuel.Butgrowing oilpalmstypically described as‘vegetable oil’ –to cosmetics andsoaps.It’s from crispsto breads, ice cream andcereals –where it’s primarily inSoutheast Asia,isinmanyeveryday products, Nutritious, deliciousandrichinenergy, palmoil,grown Roundtable onSustainable Palm Oil(RSPO) www.fsc.org growth forests orthepeople wholive inthem. sustainably managedforests thathave done noharmto old- make sure your wood products came from legally logged, management oftheworld’s forests. Lookfor thislabelto sustainable, economically viable andsocially benefi and manymore products. TheFSC setsstandards for to create packaging,buildingmaterials, charcoal, paper also for somefoodstuffs, andfor oursupply ofwood used We rely onforestry notonly for ecosystem health,but Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) emissions, tonamejustafew. ciency, sustainable manufacturing andsoon–have been cation standards thathelpmake any The goodnews isthatfor cial 0 5

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2 1 0 2 / 3 0 / 19 5 0 Annan – works Annan – works The green economy The green nancing, storage and transport. and transport. nancing, storage nd one in your area – are increasingly popular and a great area – nd one in your Eating for the green economy Eating for the green fresher or more delicious than out get any Produce doesn’t ‘try to eat something you’ve say garden. Some own of your spices includes herbs and That day’. every yourself grown us But for those of ledge or balcony. on a window grown can skills, farmers’ markets – if you horticultural lack who fi to the farmer, cash goes straight hard-earned Your alternative. get to meet support local food production and you you helping to create vital com- feeding you, the person who’s munity links. cook, another option is to sign up for an adventurous If you’re as community-supported agricul- known – also a box scheme a selec- farm or pool of farmers delivers a local ture – where This subscription. door by tion of in-season produce to your a stable market for – and builds community helps guarantee in – local agriculture. investment in live don’t Of course, eating locally might get boring if you produce, and many for lush year-round a climate that allows from abroad. In come to depend on foods sourced of us have those cases, look for sustainably produced and/or fair-trade an as positive products to help ensure these treats are having as possible. and socially, impact, both environmentally always also important to keep in mind that local doesn’t It’s on footprint, as the footprint depends as much a lower have for example, A local strawberry, production as on transport. using lots of pesticides and fertilizers in heated green- grown footprint than an environmental a heavier have houses may country. shipped in from a sunny organic strawberry Smallholder farmers – the majority of them women – provide – provide of them women farmers – the majority Smallholder and little few resources food, typically with Africa’s most of smallholder to help empower support. Hoping government Alliance the and hunger, lift them out of poverty farmers and an organization – (AGRA) Africa in Revolution for a Green Kofi Secretary-General former UN by chaired trans- and prosperity by Africa to support food security across sustainable farming into a productive, forming smallholder the environment. protecting system, all while and competitive farmers’ organiza- African governments, In partnership with and society civil sector, the private scientists, tions, research with farmers to im- works AGRA organizations, multilateral use of encourage crop varieties, test and improve soil, prove crop biodiver- and collect and conserve underutilized seeds, in youth and train with communities to involve It works sity. seeds, soils, access to healthy farmers agriculture, and gives adap- on climate-change markets and education, and advice tation, fi half in at aim is ambitious: to reduce food insecurity by The of 20 million families, least 20 countries, double the incomes to attain and sustain a and put at least 15 countries on track 2020. by African Green Revolution African-led home-grown, www.agra-alliance.org An African Green Revolution Green African An

M.E. Garcia Blanco/UNEP Peter Essick/Aurora/SpecialistStock shing cation cation es soy, nitely without without nitely sh stocks are are sh stocks shery certifi sheries, seafood com- sheries, seafood shing with its fi shing to continue indefi continue shing to and labour rights. land icts over 9 1

d d n i . 3 v g n The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) Soy on Responsible The Round Table humans as a to and valuable crop common is a very Soy including pigs, poultry livestock for as fodder source, food foods. used in processed and as an oil widely and cattle, the biofuels. Similar to produce oil is also used to Soy by WWF, the RTRS certifi RSPO and also established its derivatives and products, all along the supply chain. Its the supply all along and products, its derivatives of high in areas cultivation soy include prohibiting standards monitoring and savannahs, forests like value conservation and eliminating the most pollution and soil erosion, water It also seeks to farming. soy from pesticides hazardous social confl prevent www.responsiblesoy.org Food from the sea is healthy, renewable and an essential and an essential is healthy, renewable the sea from Food But demand is the world. billions around for source food of fi than 70 per cent and more increasing, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Marine Stewardship already overharvested and depleted, while poor fi while and depleted, overharvested already the seabed damage marine such as trawling tices prac with fi The MSC works ecosystems. and the public groups conservation panies, scientists, by in seafood choice environmental the best promote to fi sustainable rewarding operate Fisheries must ecolabel. and seafood programme permits fi that at a level minimize impact managed to be must exploitation, over of the function and diversity productivity, on the structure, and international meet all local, and must ecosystem, national laws. www.msc.org E _ 4 . 9 _

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u T hat if more of us spend less time earning conventional wages and more time exchanging Living together Wsome goods and services directly, or sharing things we don’t need all the time, bypassing money altogether? After all, it’s what everyone’s great grandparents used to do, and many communities all over the world still depend on it. Alternative economies can help supply your needs, strengthen the local economy, and give you a chance to get to know your neighbours and the skills they offer. Might it work for you?

Community currency library in Berkeley, California, decided it would be a good A community currency programme, also known as idea to loan tools as well as books. Today, there are at barter currency, works by offering skills or products as least 40 tool-lending libraries across the United States an alternative to cash, redeemable in local shops and and a few in Canada and Australia. businesses, thus helping a local economy become self- suffi cient. So if you’re a house painter, you might do a job Community Fruit, Christchurch for a certain number of points, and use them to get your A New Zealand organization goes around picking unused bike fi xed by your local mechanic, who uses them to buy fruit from people’s gardens, and re distributing it by donat- food from a local farmer. There are many such systems ing to those in need. Saves waste, eases hunger. Problem in place around the world, some that operate on tokens, solved! Isn’t it an adaptable idea? some on a system of credited points. Local currency is one www.facebook.com/pickfruitchristchurch of the methods used by the Transition Town movement to build resilience in local communities, reduce food and Couchsurfi ng trade miles, and help people become more self-reliant in Skip that impersonal, energy-intensive hotel and im- the face of dwindling oil supplies and climate change. merse yourself in real life, wherever you go. Couch- www.transitionnetwork.org surfi ng lets you offer your home free to travellers, and in turn you can search for a free place to stay when you Freecycle travel. It boasts millions of members in more than 230 Why recycle when you can Freecycle? It’s easy. If you countries, changing the face of travel. have something you no longer need – anything from www.couchsurfi ng.org a pair of jeans through a desk to a pile of leftover bricks from that building project – post it on your local BookCrossing Freecycle network’s website. Or if you need something, Do you have a book you’d love to share? Register it on you can post a wanted notice, and hope someone has BookCrossing.com, print out a label to identify and track what you need. Freecycle sites across Europe, the USA it, and ‘release’ it anywhere in public – on a bus, in a and Australia are helping unwanted items everywhere restaurant or in the park – for someone to fi nd. When fi nd good homes. the fi nder has fi nished reading it, he or she can let it go www.freecycle.net again. Participants can follow the fate of books on the website if fi nders report them. So far, more than 850,000 Tool libraries active BookCrossers have registered almost 7 million Most of us don’t need full-time custody of drills, books travelling around 130 countries! concrete mixers, saws and such. In 1979, the public www.bookcrossing.com

ROBERT VANWAARDEN photographed youth participants at the Occupy COP-17 encampment in Durban during the Climate Conference, and CAROLINE WAMBUI spoke to them about why they were there, and what they hoped to achieve.

‘I think that the solution for ‘I am here because I recog- climate change is the people, nize my global citizenship and the union of the people and understand that the system the mobilization of the people, that we live in is one of shared and that yes, we can make a problems, shared solutions change.’ and shared resources. We, the Nilza Matavel, Mozambique people, know this and understand this inherently.’ Angus Joseph, South Africa

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2 1 0 2 / 3 0 / 21 5 0 gure out gure The green economy The green nancial resources to to nancial resources cult.’ t that into a single media-friendly media-friendly a single t that into atmospheric space to absorb to atmospheric space act as And we their emissions. and immo- strict are if there what is actually limits to vable bountiful – the fi need. build the kind of society we turn this of our time is to ‘The task scarcity. this false challenge to around: build a to afford can that we insist To at the society – while inclusive decent, limits to the real same time respecting take. what the Earth can the about regulating ‘I’m not talking on the taxes banks and increasing I am important. rich, though that’s about changing the underlying talking hard It’s our society. that govern values to fi fi to also hard demand, and it’s for urgent do it. But it is no less to how being diffi

N. Klein Anna Collins, UK ‘I am here because inside they are talking about my future, about my future, talking are inside they because ‘I am here each and every that affect about issues talking are and they claim to without us. They doing it are one of us, but they what the to not listening are but they the world represent and try to my voice raise to So I am here say. has to world listen but also to be heard, everyone from and learn these It is today. who is here in that I put my faith people something new creating for and beautiful, something that and will change the paradigm shift we bring about the global need.’ so desperately gure gure nite – fossil fuels and the – fossil nite shing our oceans, polluting our water polluting our water shing our oceans, Its overriding message is clear: if you is clear: message Its overriding your it’s are, the way things don’t like the change create to responsibility own want. you NAOMI thinker radical and Writer of the out in support KLEIN spoke movement. Occupy the has trashed greed ‘Unfettered the And it is trashing economy. global over- are We as well. world natural ﬁ and deep- fracturing with hydraulic the dirtiest drilling, turning to water the on the planet, like of energy forms the atmosphere sands. And tar Alberta not absorb the amount of carbon can dang- it, creating putting into are we warming. erous what is no end to act as if there ‘We ﬁ is actually t than nancial is a grassroots is a grassroots movement cult to pin down. cult to 1 2

d d n i .

3 v g n Its message hit a nerve: in the wake hit a nerve: Its message 750 York, New Street, Wall of Occupy erupted movements Occupy or more during the the world in cities around a loosely months of 2011, forming last that is movement global connected vary of discourse going. Points still but the move- depending on location, de- worldwide ment has encouraged in the fi bate about failures human and environmental well-being. human and environmental behaviour, environ- corporate system, live. and the way we radation deg mental with no obvious leaders, so its with no obvious leaders, diffi demands are be appear to many people However, with the dissatisfaction in their united and a of wealth distribution current that seems system economic global with profi concerned be more to

Tipti, India OCCUPY

change you change you WANT Create the Create ‘I am here because I’m a global citizen and I really care about care citizen and I really I’m a global because ‘I am here the UNFCCC I should forget the Earth. One part of me feels ﬁ communities, our own into retreat just Let’s process. of ourselves care take food, our own grow can we out how not going it’s because structure about this larger and forget single change. But every to and pollutionday emissions our ability compromising are to food, our own produce to live. to be able and to breathe some- because So I am here be needs to thing desperately I done and I will do whatever speak out.’ to can E _ 4 . 9 _

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u T T u n z a _ 9 . 4 _ E 22 or sandare saidto bemore durable rebuild homes. Bottles fi with rubble andrubbishusedto post-earthquake Haiti,they are fi tion andboundwithmud, while in tles are stacked onaconcrete founda- boomed. InNigeria,sand-packed bot- bricks madefrom plastic bottles have surprise, then,thatinthelast decade friendly construction materials. No tles andnotenoughaffordable eco- The world hastoo manyplastic bot- Bricks from bottles through oilto plastics, pesticides and everything from organic materials famous for theirabilityto break down disposal greener withmushrooms – Rhim Leewantsto make corpse MIT-based artist anddesignerJae over alifetime into theenvironment. corpses release toxins accu mulated large amountsofenergy. Even buried chemicals, andcremation requires embalming process usestoxic Even after death,we pollute: the Mushroom deathsuit OLEDs are already usedinhigh-endTV and producing higherqualityimages, thin, more energy-effi current ispassed through. Paper- which emitlightwhenanelectric thinly layered between two conductors, of organic light-emittingmolecules, emitting diodes.OLEDsare made bendable OLEDs–organic light- this maybepossible withstretchable, displays embeddedinclothing. All wallpaper thatlightsaroom, video TV monitors thatroll upfor storage, Elastic electronics the green economy ineveryday life. Itisthefuture... Seven new ideasandtechnologies thatpointthewayto embed 7 n g v 3 TUNZA . i n d d

Vol 9No 4 2 2 innovations cient thanLCDs lled withmud lled now acollector’s item. Only 60,000were madeand they are that actsasaninterlocking brick. bre viated to WOBO, aglass beerbottle with hisprescient World Bottle, ab- brewer Alfred Heineken didin1963 specifi next, bottle makers shoulddesign to produce brickandconcrete. Perhaps on theenergy andmaterials required can absorbshockloads, andthey save than brick,they are notbrittle andso http://infi adapt to eatinghumanbodytissue. break down environmental toxins to certain mushroom speciesknown to help ofscientists, sheiscultivating right fungusfor thejobbut,with our bodies.Shehasn’tyet found the and helpremediate thetoxins stored in accelerate theprocess ofde com position with mycelium spores, whichwould with various burialsuitsembedded other pollutants. She’s experimented human tissue. that can move andstretch along with including embeddedbiomedical devices OLEDs, thepossibilities are endless, current efforts to create more fl to make. Ifresearchers succeed in or mercury, andthey are less expensive don’t needsuchtoxic chemicals aslead less energy-intensive processing and LEDs orfl are more eco-friendly to produce than wallpaper andelectronic gadgets.They screens, billboards, light-generating cally for after-use –asbeer nityburialproject.com uorescents asthey require exible

www.led-signs-displays.com Mike Shafran/Jae Rhim Lee ECO-TEC www.eco-tec-solutions.com 0 5 / 0 3 / 2 0 1 2

0 9 : 3 5 T u n z a _ 9 . 4 _ E she designed one thatcould attach season to warrant investing inone, shelling machinefor long enoughper m ers wouldn’t require anormalmaize- sheller. Realizingthatsmallholderfar- bicycle-mounted, bicycle-run maize entrepreneur JodieWudeveloped a Seeking abridgetech nology, social have to payfor mechanical shelling. to remove thecorn from thehusk,or either traditionally shell maizebyhand In Tanzania, smallholderfarmers Pedal power left inthedark.Injust oneweek, packed into packagingmouldsand stalks are inoculated withmycelium, by-products like seedhusksandplant mushrooms. Low-value agricultural networks thatcomprise theroots of mycelium –thethread-like fungal to particle orcardboard. Itisusing petroleum-based foam packaging erials to replace everything from Ecovative isliterally growing mat- Sustainable materials company Growing packaging and polypropylene –into oil.TheBlest plastic –polyethylene, polystyrene that converts three kindsofcommon safe, easy-to-use tabletop machine in ventor, AkinoriIto, hascreated a to most consumers. Now aJapanese back into oil,buthasbeeninaccessible thermal denaturingcon verts plastics also recycle itasfuel.Thepro cess of can certainly produce less, butwe can What to doaboutplastic waste? We Plastic fantastic With amassive price tag of$100,000, reducing waste andtransport costs. 10 cents –savingmoney aswell as make aroll, andeachroll costs about It takes 40sheetsofofﬁ it inwater andforms itinto toilet paper. machine thatshreds paper,dissolves company skipsthemiddleman witha buy recycled lavatory paper. AJapanese We religiously recycle ofﬁ Documents in,loo roll out n g v 3 . i n d d

2 3 ce paper, then ce paper,then ce paperto reclaim pollutionasvaluable fuel. litter isaproblem, helpingpeople to most usefulincountries where plastic plastic waste anywhere. Itmayprove portable, sofuelcan begenerated from or refi used directly ingenerators orstoves, generates alitre ofoil,whichcan be and toxic fumes.Every kilo ofplastic thresher. mountable gadgetssuchasarice- Cycle Solutions, isdev eloping more service, andJodie’s enter prise, Global can usethebike asataxi orcourier start abusiness. Inthe off-season,they young entrepreneurs have thetools to bike-mounted cell-phone charger, gadgets: equippedwithasheller and a new economy withbike-mounted pedal power. Jodiehopesto pioneer to afunctionalbicycle andworked on burning it,avoiding CO machine meltsplastic into oilwithout www.ecovativedesign.com and more. for clothing, scientifi pioneer new sustainable materials developing thistechnique, hopingto useful life. Ecovative isalsofurther be home-composted attheendofits the processes used.Best ofall,itcan textures anddensities,dependingon rigid material thatcan have various and bindsitlike glue,creating a the mycelium digests thefeedstock catches on,itshouldgetcheaper. quan tities ofwaste paper. Andifit offi free loo roll –oratuniversities orbig papers andgohomewithpractically where students could shred afew term as recycling centres andsupermarkets, it could prove effi suitable for homesorsmalloffi the machine–called White Goat–isn’t ce buildings,whichgenerate large ned into petrol. Themachineis http://gcstz.com cient insuchsettings c equipment c 2 emissions emissions ces, but

Japan Technology Information www.blest.co.jp www.ecovativedesign.com www.carbondescent.org.uk The green economy 0 23 5 / 0 3 / 2 0 1 2

0 9 : 3 5 HEAL THE WORLD

www.innsbruck2012.com Sonali Prasad, IOC YOG Young Reporter

emember ‘Heal the world. Make it a better place. For you and for me and the entire human race’? Michael Jackson’s song still plays in minds and thoughts about how we should treat each other with respect and Rdignity, and live in harmony. These words deliver a special message to today’s youth as the world is confronted by unprecedented environmental challenges and is struggling to cope with the damage and destruction that can be seen everywhere: ﬂ oods, droughts, landslides, tsunamis.

At the ﬁ rst Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), in Innsbruck, Austria, UNEP teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to spread the message of environmental sustainability amongst young people: our future, our hope.

UNEP and the IOC have been working together for nearly 20 years to make the world’s largest sporting events as green as possible and to educate young people about the importance of sustainable development. In Innsbruck, young athletes thronged to the UNEP booth – part of the Culture and Education Programme – to gather information, participate in activities and post memos on the athletes’ wallboard.

The board was ﬂ ooded with messages, from simple calls to cycle, recycle, plant trees and respect the environment, to action-oriented slogans calling for environmental sustainability: ‘The future is ours, embrace it’, ‘Trees are our friends, respect them’, and even ‘It’s now or never’. These messages and thoughts from the young athletes show that our generation truly cares. And we aren’t alone. The President of Hungary Pal Schmitt – double Olympic gold medalist and Chairman of the IOC’s Sport and Environment Commission – wrote ‘Higher, stronger, swifter and greener!’ All these will be shared with youth networks and other partners by the IOC and UNEP to promote a sense of urgency in the lead up to Rio+20 and beyond.

UNEP’s Tunza booth was a huge draw, with information on the wonder and fragility of mountain ecosystems, the green economy and youth employment, and the chemicals in our bodies. Visitors also had the chance to calculate their own ecological footprint. But it didn’t stop there. The importance of the environment – the third pillar of Olympism – was underlined right across Innsbruck 2012, with even an energy-saving competition in the Youth Olympic Village which allowed young athletes to show how aware they were and see which of the 375 apartments used the least energy during the Games. The spirit of competition ﬁ red the young athletes to take shorter showers, recharge mobiles and other gadgets during training sessions, and switch off un-needed lights.

The booths at the Youth Olympic Games are a way of reaching out to young minds and leaving a mark. Activities like these do produce tangible results. In the words of the ﬁ rst man on the moon, Neil Armstrong: ‘A small step for man, a giant leap for mankind.’

As world leaders gather in Rio this June, let’s rekindle the spirit of Rio 1992 to halt the assault on our only planet, and work as a team to make it a better place for present and future generations. Let’s ‘heal the world’ … together.

Sonali Prasad is one of 15 young people, aged between 18 and 24 from the ﬁ ve continents, chosen to take part in the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympic Games Young Reporter Programme. They were either journalism students or people who had recently started their careers. The initiative provided the budding reporters with a cross-platform journalist training programme and on-the-job experience during the Games.

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