Understanding the development dimension of green growth

Developing countries face numerous challenges that together call for an alternative model of growth that can improve quality of life in the near term, without undermining it over the long term. Green growth can address these challenges and avoid locking countries into resource-inefficient, costly and environmentally damaging infrastructure or production and consumption patterns. This chapter explains the concept of green growth and its role as a means to achieve sustainable development. It explores developing countries’ views and concerns about what green growth can deliver for their national development objectives and discusses the potential political challenges, trade-offs and short-term transitional costs of going “green”.