Greening Industry: New Roles for Communities, Markets, and Governments

This book is directly available from the publisher
National Environment Agency
39 Tran Hung Dao street
Hanoi
Vietnam

Greening Industry shows how recent economic and regulatory policy reforms are reducing industrial pollution in developing countries without threatening economic growth. After many failed attempts to import regulatory models from the industrial countries, pioneers of the new approach are developing a new model for pollution control. Based on sound economic principles, this new model incorporates market-based incentives, a broad commitment to public environmental information, and targeted assistance to managers who are trying to improve environmental performance. It stresses participatory regulation where community representatives share in negotiations with government regulators and factory managers. With much better public information about pollution, market agents also make their presence felt through the decisions of consumers, bankers and stockholders.

Greening Industry speaks with authority because its authors helped establish many of the innovative programs that are featured in the report. And the outlook is optimistic. After six years of research, policy experimentation and front-line observation, the authors conclude that sustainable industrial development is within reach. Although greening industry will take time, even the poorest countries can accomplish it. The report shows why, and suggests strategies for moving forward. Greening Industry is an indispensable resource for policymakers, the international development community, and all those concerned with protecting the environment.