GreenEntrepreneurship
catalysing the transition to Mediterranean Green Economies
Enrique de Villamore Martín, CP/RAC’s DirectorMCSD, Budva, Montenegro, 30,31 May and 1 June 2011
Green Economy (UNEP)
That which results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
Person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea and is accountable for the inherent risks and the outcome
Wikipedia
Entrepreneurs: key drivers of economic progress, contributors to technological innovation and new job growth
World Economic Forum
Source: Global Entrepreneurship and the Successful Growth Strategies of Early-Stage Companieshttp://www.businessandleadership.com
ENTREPRENEURSdriving forces in the economies
One that:
• Integrates environmental, economic & social axis in core business
• Provides innovative solutions to the way goods and services are produced & consumed
• Proposes a business model whose scaling-up contributes to the greening of the economy
What is a GREEN ENTREPRENEUR?
... A CHANGEMAKER
CP/RAC’s Action Plan on GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CP/RAC’s activity in compliance with the tasks of the RACs and MAP to support the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (COP 2008, Almeria):
Generate and manage relevant knowledge to inform and substantiate policy dialogues, decisions and action (…)
3 phases
1. Identifying assets and challenges for Green Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean and collection of succesful cases to be replicated
2. Awareness Raising on governments, businesses and financial institutions
3. Moving to action: technical assistance to green entrepreneurs
Phase 1: State of the art on Green Entrepreneurship in Mediterranean countries, collection of cases and views from the actors
Reports on the state of the art in Med Arab countries and Turkey
Collection of 25 best case studies (pre-selection of 50)
Views from Green Entrepreneurs on the challenges & opportunities in the Mediterranean region
Technical support of CEDARE (member of the Steering committee of the Arab Roundtable for Sustainable consumption and production), the Turkish Technology Development Foundation and Barcelonya,
4 key criteria in selecting the cases
1. Solutions oriented – tackling an environmental and a social challenge – “transforming our world for the better”
2. Stimulating sustainable lifestyles – developing products or services that enable individuals to make more sustainable every day choices
3. Innovation – promoting systemic change, ”disrupting the status quo” e.g. moving from providing products to services (dematerializing the economy)
4. Economic feasibility of the business
Green entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean
Terre de LiensEthical investment
CompostadoresCompost units
Concepto VerdingTextile
Green ChipElectronics Recycling
GaeaFood production
KaragönlerBiofuel from waste
Sakrah Women’s CooperativeAgriculture & crafts
Ezgi GidaFood production
Souk el TayebFarmers markets
BugdayFarmers markets& agrotourism
ASSIDNatural medicine
Ecobike Israel Cycling tourism
Taziry EcolodgeEcotourism
Tanaïl EcolodgeEcotourism
VIP dry car cleaningEco-design
Cop (M)adamRecycled products
SteppenEco-design
JESRecycling
ADAPT EgyptHousingMilles Collines
Textile
SEKEMOrganic Production
Consortium of companies producing and distributing organic and biodynamic food, textile and pharmaceutical products in Egypt and abroad.
Economic 2,000 jobs, annual turnover 23m€
Environmental Chemical pesticides-free production, Closed nutrient cycles tackle climate change, resource depletion and desertification.
Social Education & health programmes through SEKEM development foundation
SEKEM (EGYPT)
GREEN FOOD, TEXTILE AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
Company that collects dismantles and sorts electronic waste, recovering precious and non ferrous metals and selling other dismantled products.
Economic 24 full time jobs, 150 part time, annual turnover 2m US$
Environmental Reduction in contamination of soil & groundwater from e-waste, 120.000 tonnes of e-waste to be recycled per year
Social 65 young unemployed trained each year in computer maintenance & recycled computers donated to schools
GREEN CHIP (MOROCCO)
RECYCLING
Tourism facility integrating traditional construction, renewable energy, organic farming and cultural heritage.
Economic 29 full time jobs & 80 part time sustainable construction workers
Environmental Use of locally sourced renewable construction materials, reduced pesticide, fertiliers & fossil fuel use
Social Preservation & celebration of Siwa culture (caligraphy, arquitecture, poetry)
TAZIRY ECOLODGE (EGYPT)
GREEN TOURISM
Findings from the interviews with 25 green entrepreneurs from different Mediterranean countries
Common assets• Vision & values• Relationships & networks• Leadership & focus• Targeted innovation• Problem analysis
• Limited access to investment• Absence of public support for
entrepreneurs• Weak environmental legislation• Lack of market incentives• Lack of entrepreneurship culture• Low interest from consumers• Bureaucracy
Shared challenges
• Green Entrpreneurs still unknown concept in the region• More active role needed from government & investors• Women’s empowerment key for employment• Governance structure influences the scale of employment• Green Entrpreneurs need acess to capital, training & key stakeholders• Exchange of GE across borders is limited• Different stages of entrepreneurship have different needs
Reflections
Organized by CP/RAC, ASCAME and UpM, within the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders
Participants from companies, financial institutions
Dissemination of succesful cases of green entrepreneurship, knowledge exchange, networking
V ECOMEDA GREEN FORUM November 2011, Barcelona
Phase 2: Awareness Raising to businesses and financial institutions
Regional Workshop on Green Entrepreneurship and Green Jobs, 2012
2. Advice and support to start up green entrepreneurs through the connection with existing entrepreneurs and other experts
3. Motivation for potential green entrepreneurs to develop green enterprises in collaboration withwith business schools and universities
4. Facilitation of local multistakeholder dialogue to design business solutions for local environmental problems
4 Proposals for action
1. Mechanisms for up and running green entrepreneurs to develop and expand initiatives through the exchange of information and experiences
Phase 3: moving from awareness raising to technical support to Green Mediterranean Entrepreneurs
VisionThe Mediterranean region has the right conditionsfor green entrepreneurs and grass root initiatives
to provide innovative solutions contributingto the transition to green economies
in the Mediterranean countries.
ChallengeCreate the conditions for potential, start ups and up and running entrepreneurs to provide
innovative solutions to environmental and social challenges in the region.
Regional Activity Center for Cleaner [email protected]
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