There is every indication that major disasters could be the new midwives of history. Seeking to prevent them, the green economy aims to reduce "environmental risks" and "ecological scarcities" while improving human well-being and social equity.These are the stated goals of the Green Economy Initiative, launched in 2008 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The adoption of a green economy public policies, regulations, incentives and international agreements could not only help reverse environmental degradation, but also foster greater economic growth than is possible under the current "brown economy", claims UNEP.