GREEN AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY ONLINE RESOURCES Environmental issues and greenwashing What is green economy? has been defined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a sustainable economy with zero emissions. Consequently, all energy should be supplied by renewable resources which are naturally replenished. A green economy is a clean, environmentally friendly economy that promotes health, wealth, and well-being. In this economy every business tries to work in harmony with nature: good is used to protect people, communities and nature against exploitation and abuse, and to generate social justice. It is in contrast with , where economic growth depends only on restricted resources (coal, petroleum and natural gas) and the environmental pollution is severe (carbon dioxide and or PMs are released into the atmosphere). Green economy governance brown economy particulate matters 1 MORE Particulate matter (PM) contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. PM can come from any type of burning or any dustgenerating activities such as emissions from vehicles and industrial plant 1 smokestacks. What is circular economy? is a model of production and consumption which involves sharing, reusing, repairing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended. In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible. For this reason, circular economy is one of the strategic tools that the European green economy uses to achieve the ambitious goal of climate neutrality by 2050. Circular economy leasing, refurbishing Future perspectives The latest scientific studies and direct experiences of environmental devastation and climate change are making it clear that the economic model needs to change. The aims of a global green programme could be: producing energy using low carbon methods and resources that will not run out (i.e. solar, wind or geothermal); minimising waste by reducing consumption, reusing things and recycling where possible; using resources more efficiently; growing a local food economy. This conversion to a green economy is a big that could take many years. It will protect the future of our planet and will also create a new trend in the job market, with many new job opportunities in environmental fields. challenge 2 MORE Green-collar jobs have become the hot new employment area. They can range from manual to managerial and they all have the common goal of improving the quality of the environment by reducing waste and pollution. 2