15 June 2012: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released the June 2012 issue of its Green Growth Newsletter, which features articles on, inter alia: green growth indicators; green growth and tourism; and China’s commitment to green growth.

The newsletter highlights OECD’s online Green Growth Indicators database, which includes indicators designed to help governments measure progress on greening growth, focusing on: environmental and resource productivity; natural asset bases; the environmental quality of life; and economic opportunities and policy responses. The newsletter indicates that in Latin America, countries are using these indicators to identify areas of concern and to improve the design and performance of policy instruments.

Noting the challenging process towards a greener economy in the tourism sector, the newsletter also highlights the sector’s role in encouraging a transition to a low-carbon, green economy through promoting innovation and implementing change in the tourism supply chain and related sectors.

Describing China’s Five-Year Plans, the newsletter notes China’s commitment to making the transition towards a green economy, including by reforming environmental management institutions and supporting environmental protection through tax reforms. It notes that China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) aims to reduce carbon emissions by 17% and energy consumption by 16% and to increase forest coverage to 22%.

The newsletter also lists recent events and publications, including OECD’s participation in events held at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). [Publication: OECD June 2012 Newsletter]