Climate change has been one of the most critical issues in the modern world. The consistent heating of our planet has had several consequences on our communities, economy, and way of life. A climate resilient green economy – or CRGE – focuses on sustainable strategies to reduce the impact of climate change.
We can achieve a climate resilient green economy by using cloud computing and hybrid clouds. These virtual infrastructure solutions actively reduce carbon emissions and resource wastage to fight against climate change.
In this article, we explore what a climate resilient green economy is, its several benefits, and why it is so important. We also discuss how to achieve a climate resilient green economy and the many advantages that cloud computing and hybrid cloud platforms have for creating a proper CRGE Strategy. This is further proven by also providing real-life examples of companies that have reduced their carbon emissions by using cloud computing and hybrid cloud. First, let’s take a look at the state of climate change today and why a green economy is necessary.
The State of Climate Change and the Need for a Green Economy
Climate change is the long-term observed changes in Earth’s temperature and weather. From the increase of global air and ocean temperatures and making the sea level rise to reductions in snow and ice cover, changes in atmospheric and ocean circulation, and drastic shifts in regional weather patterns – these extreme weather events are dramatically reshaping our planet. The changes are caused by excessive heat trapped in our atmosphere due to the amount of greenhouse gasses in the air.
Climate change has a direct impact on each of our lives. While the planet heats up and undergoes tumultuous weather, entire communities are put at risk. Severe weather changes can destroy homes, lives, and livelihoods. Climate change also leads to water scarcity - affecting food production and supply chains. Economies can also suffer greatly from the effects of climate change. According to the United Nations, climate change actively increases the factors that put and keep people in poverty. From 2010 to 2019, weather-related events have displaced an estimated 23.1 million people on average each year - leaving many more vulnerable to poverty.
The UN defines a green economy as low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive. The green economy structure prioritizes sustainability and leads to reduced carbon emissions, resource efficiency, enhanced public safety, better quality of life, and long-term economic stability. Adopting a green economy is a crucial step in climate change adaptation and creating a fully climate resistant green economy – a concept we’ll now explore a lot more closely.
What Is a CRGE Strategy - Climate Resilient Green Economy?
A CRGE - climate resilient green economy is an economic system that aims to sustain a green economy while still ensuring effective climate resilience – this refers to the ability of a system to adapt and be resistant to the forces and effects of climate change. Within this system, public and private investments in economic activities, infrastructure, and assets are driven by their ability to reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems.
The Ethiopia CRGE strategy could be found on Climate Laws website which aims at achieving a middle income status by 2025 through economic growth that is resilient to climate change and results in no net greenhouse gas emissions. The key characteristics of a climate resilient green economy strategy include a focus on:
- Agriculture – The improvement of crop and livestock production practices for better food security and consistent farmer incomes while reducing emissions.
- Deforestation – The reduction of carbon emissions through protecting and re-establishing forests for their economic and ecosystem services – including use as carbon stocks.
- Power – The use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation for domestic and regional markets.
- Transport, Industrial Sectors, and Buildings – Making effective use of energy-efficient infrastructure development.
The Ethiopian CRGE strategy is trying to limit 2030 emissions to 150 Mt CO2e – approximately 250 Mt CO2e less than normal economies produce. It also establishes a target to increase generating capacity by 25,000MW by 2030 – with hydro 22,000MW, geothermal 1,000MW, and wind 2,000MW. These all help to create the ideal climate resilient economy. Now that we can establish what a climate resilient green economy is and how it aims to succeed, we can focus on the many benefits of the CRGE strategy.
The Benefits of a Climate Resilient Green Economy
To secure growth and protect the environment, a resilience strategy is a good solution for economies and countries worldwide. These are some of the main benefits of a climate resilient green economy across sectors:
Economic Benefits of a Climate Resilient Green Economy
The economic benefits of building climate resilience stem from sustainable practices, resource-efficient infrastructure development, and green policy changes.
- Job Creation – As the economy transitions to a climate resilient green economy, many job opportunities will arise as new sectors are developed – such as sustainable energy, deforestation, and water management.
- Economic Growth – A green economy ensures stable and developing economic growth through new projects, investors, and advanced technologies that focus on sustainability.
- Renewable Energy Distribution – Economies often suffer the expensive resource distribution and management. From electricity to water supplies, a green economy uses cheaper renewable energy resources to ensure efficient energy for all citizens rather than relying on damaging and expensive fossil fuels.
- Enhanced Public Image – As the emphasis on sustainability grows, a green economy provides a progressive, advanced, and sincere public image. Private and public investors take a keen interest in climate-resilient projects and this ensures an advantage in international trade deals and cooperation while also attracting more tourists to boost the economy from within.
Environmental Benefits of a Climate Resilient Green Economy
Naturally, there are several ways a climate resilient green economy can improve the environment.
- Reduced Carbon Emissions – Using renewable energy resources and sustainable practices, a green economy ensures a reduction in carbon emissions.
- Reduced Pollution – Implementing sustainable practices and renewable energy means fewer factories pollute the water, land, and air.
- Conservation of Ecosystems – Green infrastructure will allow the effective protection of wetlands, forests, and biodiversity. This leads to better habitat preservation and animal protection.
- Adaptive Agriculture – A climate resilient economy enables farmers to use sustainable and adaptive farming to ensure consistent produce despite climate change.
Social Benefits of a Climate Resilient Green Economy
The effects of a climate resilient green economy drip down into communities as well. There are several social benefits of the green economic model.
- Improved Public Health – The clean air and water under a green economy ensures better respiratory health and cleanliness. Less exposure to toxins also prevents new diseases from breaking out and spreading.
- Reduced Poverty – A green economy ensures better job creation in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and conservation sectors. This ensures that we have available jobs and stimulate the economy, reducing poverty.
- Addressing Inequality – Within a climate resilient economy, renewable resources can be fairly distributed and shared across all communities without bias. This also ensures better social justice and cultural cohesion.
Implementing a climate resilient green economy has many economic, environmental, and social benefits. However, actively achieving this economic framework can be challenging. Let’s take a look at how to achieve a climate resilient green economy.
How to Achieve a Climate Resilient Green Economy
To achieve a climate resilient green economy and build resilience to climate change, all sectors must try for it to be successful. We take a look at the roles of governments, businesses, and individuals in creating an effective CRGE strategy.
The Role of Governments in Creating a CRGE Strategy
Governments have the power to enact policy changes, regulations, and laws that can positively influence the creation of a green economy. A UN development program shared some ideas on how to enact this framework. Governments need to promote advanced sustainable technologies while establishing a national climate financing mechanism - or CRGE Facility - to mobilize and channel resources from domestic and international sources. Building should also take place at national, regional, and district levels to ensure transparency in the local community.
The Role of Businesses and the Private Sector in Creating a CRGE Strategy
After the government, the private and business sectors play the largest role in creating a climate resilient green economy. A study done in Bangladesh noted that companies will need to be persuaded into sustainable initiatives with assurances of better incomes, financial incentives, risk reduction, and more resources. The engagement of the private sector and businesses will stimulate the climate resilient economy. More businesses need a growth and transformation plan towards a sustainable development goal.
The Role of Individuals in Creating a CRGE Strategy
While you might assume that something as large as an economic framework cannot be influenced by your actions, a climate-resilient economy is wholly dependent on everyone in some way. Individuals can do their part by reducing their impact on the environment through recycling, renewable energy usage, and educating others. Try to get involved in community initiatives and programs, encourage others to monitor and evaluate their energy consumption, and advocate fully for a green economy.
Creating a robust and sustainable economy that can withstand climate change and minimize environmental damage is a wise and efficient strategy. This approach focuses on building a strong economy that is environmentally friendly and can withstand the impacts of climate change. By prioritizing sustainability and minimizing harm to the environment, this approach ensures long-term economic stability and resilience.
To fully implement this green economy model, you need to make use of technologies that are sustainable as well. This is why cloud computing and hybrid cloud platforms help to create a climate resilient green economy. We’ll explore some of the main advantages of using cloud computing or hybrid cloud infrastructure for green economy development.
Advantages of Cloud Computing and Hybrid Clouds for Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection
Cloud computing and hybrid cloud infrastructure are very sustainable ways to outsource computing power. In cloud computing, your servers are not on your property, reducing waste. The hybrid cloud platform also requires less server space for your company. Let’s go through some of the advantages of cloud and hybrid cloud systems for a climate resilient green economy:
- Reduced Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions – With a cloud computing or hybrid cloud setup, your server infrastructure is drastically reduced. Keeping a structure saves energy, reduces carbon emissions, supports sustainability, and helps with climate adaptation.
- Improved Resource Efficiency – Cloud infrastructure also ensures that your resources are used more efficiently. Most cloud systems use the same hardware, less energy, and need almost no human intervention to run – maximizing your resource efficiency.
- Increased Agility and Scalability – The flexibility of cloud infrastructure makes it easier to scale up or down as needed and drastically reduces energy consumption.
- Enhanced Security and Compliance – A virtual cloud infrastructure provides effective cybersecurity as well. This ensures proper data protection, disaster recovery, and compliance with data regulations in your area.
Cloud computing and hybrid cloud can enhance and elevate the ways companies implement green strategies and reduce carbon emissions. Real-life examples of companies using cloud platforms to reduce their carbon emissions demonstrate this.
Real-Life Examples of Enterprises That Reduced Carbon Emissions Using Cloud Computing and Hybrid Cloud
These companies are using cloud computing and hybrid cloud platforms to reduce their carbon footprint and as an effective climate adaptation measure. They are also aiming to help the planet become more climate resilient:
- Apple – Apple has gone out of its way to ensure sustainability across several sectors – including the cloud. Apple’s SIRI and all Apple services - iMessage, iCloud, etc.- are connected to data centers powered by 100% renewable energy. In 2022, the company further improved energy efficiency at data centers by deploying its server design that was developed with a focus on energy and computing efficiency – resulting in over 56.7 million kilowatt-hours per year in energy savings.
- Netflix – The massive streaming company required more space for the large amounts of data it handles. Fortunately, they took to using the cloud for better scalability and efficiency. An added benefit was that the streaming site also reduced its carbon footprint when making the transition.
- Pinterest – The popular social media platform chose to adopt the cloud infrastructure to keep up with growing traffic. The site was an early adopter of cloud computing to reduce its carbon emissions and improve its infrastructure.
Using the Cloud to Achieve a Climate Resilient Green Economy
Cloud and hybrid cloud infrastructure have always been pivotal technologies in the race to sustainability. These virtualized systems can help implement a climate resilient green economy by reducing carbon emissions, resource wastage, and energy consumption. Sangfor offers resilient cloud computing and hybrid cloud platforms that ensure your company offsets its carbon footprint in the most efficient, secure, and affordable way. The Hyper-Converged Infrastructure offers scalability, storage, and security that goes the extra mile for your business while still being kind to the environment.
The cloud platforms can also help companies do their part in ensuring a green economy by improving agility, security, and compliance. A climate resilient green economy is possible through the actions of governments, businesses, and individuals. We hope that companies choose sustainable practices and adopt cloud computing or hybrid cloud infrastructure to reduce their carbon footprints and protect people and the environment. This will be a milestone achievement in pushing us all to achieve a truly climate resilient green economy. Read more about green cloud computing here.
For more information on Sangfor’s cyber security and cloud computing solutions, visit www.sangfor.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
While they are related to one another, a green economy refers to an economic system that promotes sustainability, reduced carbon emissions, and environmental consciousness. A climate-resilient green economy, on the other hand, is the economic framework used to describe an economy that promotes sustainability while considering the effects of climate change.
- Lack of education and awareness.
- Lack of funding.
- Lack of support from governments.
- Lack of advanced technologies to improve sustainability.
- Inequality as impoverished communities suffer the effects of climate change more than the wealthy.
- Resistant economic interests in fossil fuels.
- Global conflict.
- Investments in public transport, electric vehicles, or cycling infrastructure.
- Reforestation initiatives that aim to plant trees to offset carbon emissions – such as the Great Green Wall program.
- Renewable energy investments.
- Cloud computing and hybrid cloud infrastructure solutions.
- Communities can educate themselves and others about environmental impacts and climate resilience.
- Businesses can fund and make use of advanced sustainable technologies to increase their popularity.
- Adopting sustainable practices, using public transport, and more.
- Investing in carbon offsets to cancel out the carbon emissions.
- Being energy efficient in manufacturing and production processes.
- Advocating for green policies and initiatives in communities.
- Reduced carbon emissions mean compliance with environmental regulations.
- Green initiatives present a better, more progressive public image that will attract more investors.
- Sustainable technologies use less resources and energy – which reduces your business expenses.
- Climate resilience means cleaner water, air, and land – this improves the general health of communities and reduces the spread of disease.
- Green economies help to preserve habitats, ecosystems, and wildlife.
