The Conference on Green Economics which was held jointly by the Sustainable Development Policy and the Heinrich-Boll Foundation in Islamabad from September 12 to 14, 1995 advocated sustainability as a concept for the development of the Third World states without overly draining their resources. Appropriately titled as Green Economics, the conference which was attended by economists, environmentalists and specialists from several countries dealt with almost the entire spectrum of issues that fall within the scope of economy and environment. Much of the thrust of the speakers was on the perceptible environmental and economic decline in Third World countries, but there were also others who saw hope in the enduring ability of people to face up to the challenges.

 

The three day meeting of experts also sought to send a message to the those who govern in the Third World that the expediency of development need not be at the cost of generating new problems in the process. There is no instant fix-it to overcome poverty and under-development in countries except through the application of policies that are aimed at working within the strict limitations imposed by the available resources. This also implies good governance and reducing non-development expenditure to make the developmental process meaningful.