The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) urged developing countries to place emphasis on the transition to a more sustainable economy instead of ‘tightening their belts’ in response to the financial crisis.
In its “Trade and Environment Review 2009/2010” released on Feb. 8, the UNCTAD said the transition to a more effective, environmentally-friendly and socially equitable economy could be achieved thanks to the current technology.
The transition is expected to reap great results in terms of employment, enhancing energy efficiency, developing sustainable agriculture and taking the best of renewable energy, according to the UN body.
To make the transition successful, the review highlights the importance of far more proactive government roles in removing obstacles regarding policy and the market, which is hindering the flow of investment in the field, as well as in encouraging private investment and diversifying technologies.
The UNCTAD said that low-income and lesser developed countries could adopt various measures to increase energy efficiency, including the construction of ‘green’ buildings.
The UN body called for governments to encourage the application of organic farming techniques, the use of insects to control epidemics so as to reduce chemicals in agricultural production, and the adoption of other measures to develop sustainable agriculture.
Wireless energy such as solar batteries, wind energy and biogas may step up agricultural production, improve the air quality and create more jobs, it said./.