THE MEASUREMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESOURCE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE GREEN ECONOMY

Abstract

The global economic crisis of 2008 forced world leaders to seek new paths of development. One of these roads may be “green growth” leading to the achievement of „green economy”. However, it requires taking activities involving the sustainable use of natural capital, the maintaining the ability of the ecosystem to provide certain services and the assurance of good environmental quality, without adverse effects on health and lives of the citizens. These actions should enable to reconcile economic growth with the concern for the environment. In this situation, it is necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the actions taken and checking on the progress of “greening the economy”. Central Statistical Offi ce of Poland developed a set of measuring methods that can be
used in the monitoring process. The aim of the article is to present one of the indicator groups relating to the environmental and resource productivity of the economy. The article is divided into two parts. The fi rst one presents the theoretical issues relating to the green economy and the indicators used to measure it. While the second is devoted to presenting the Polish situation in the background of the European Union countries in terms of the indicators relating to the environmental and resource productivity of the economy.