Epicenter of Renewable Energy Investments Shifts to Developing Economies

[Fledermaus]

But perhaps the biggest proponent of clean energy investments is a recent report by the United Nations Environment Program that conclusively shows that investing just two per cent of global GDP into key sectors can kick-start a transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy, delivering a higher growth in GDP and GDP per capita than business as usual.

The landmark report goes on to state that a green economy can create more jobs than it loses and alleviate poverty provided conducive local government policies are in place. In fact one of the reasons China overtook the United States last year as the most attractive market for renewable energy investment was the strong government support.

While China shared the lead with the United States during the first quarter of 2010, it moved ahead as the U.S. government failed to enforce clean energy legislation. China today has over 1600 government run incubators and science parks, with a majority of them involved in cleantech projects. The country is the fourth in the world in patent origin in six clean technologies including wind, biomass and clean coal.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/03/30/epicenter-of-renewable-energy-investments-shifts-to-developing-economies/