Title : Environmental science to back up green economy by Dr. Mashudi
Abstract:
Environmental science provides the empirical, data-driven foundation for the green economy, offering solutions that allow for economic growth while staying within planetary boundaries. The transition to a green economy is heavily backed by scientific evidence proving that reducing carbon emissions, optimizing resource use, and preserving biodiversity are essential for long-term economic stability and human welfare. Key scientific areas that back the green economy include: Climate Science & Emissions Reduction Decarbonization: Environmental data shows that transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy (solar, wind, hydropower) is necessary to mitigate climate change, which threatens to cause significant economic damage. Net-Zero Targets: Scientific frameworks, such as those targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 or 2060, prove that balancing carbon emission with absorption (via carbon capture or natural sinks) is necessary to keep global warming within safe limits. Energy Efficiency: Scientific assessments show that improving energy efficiency in industry and transportation reduces emissions while lowering operating costs. Ecology & Natural Capital Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting ecosystems is not only an ecological necessity but an economic one, ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services like clean water, air purification, and pollination. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): Scientific evidence supports restoring mangroves and reforesting areas to act as carbon sinks and prevent natural disasters, which also creates local jobs and economic value. Sustainable Agriculture: Shifting to organic farming and sustainable soil management can significantly reduce CO2 emissions—estimates suggest a potential savings of 580 billion pounds of Circular Economy & Material Science Resource Efficiency: Environmental science supports shifting from a "take-make-waste" model to a circular economy, which emphasizes reducing consumption, repairing, reusing, and recycling materials to minimize environmental impact. Waste-to-Value: Research into waste management shows that recycling plastics, e-waste, and using organic waste for, or producing, bio-based products can create economic value from previously discarded materials. Green Chemistry: The development of low-carbon materials and eco-friendly products, such as sustainable packaging and adhesives for electric vehicles, supports low-carbon economic growth. Environmental Data & Modeling Green Economy Indicators: Scientists and economists have developed metrics, such as the Green Economy Index (e.g., in Indonesia), to measure progress across environmental, social, and economic pillars. Long-Term Modeling: Research indicates that the transition to a green economy, while requiring initial investment, leads to higher GDP growth, improved public health, and increased green job creation in the long term. Policy Support: Environmental science supports fiscal policies like carbon taxes to correct market failures, encouraging firms to adopt cleaner, more efficient technologies. These scientific foundations demonstrate that a green economy is a practical, necessary strategy to address the triple crisis of environmental destruction, economic instability, and social inequality
Keywords : environmental science, green economy
