Green economy: sustainability or a new cycle of capitalism?

Abstract

This article aims to provide a critical analysis of the concept of the green economy by examining its theoretical foundations, key practices, and the political-economic implications of its implementation. It seeks to assess the extent to which this approach offers a genuine alternative to the traditional development model centered on unlimited economic growth or whether it, instead, constitutes a reconfiguration of the capitalist system under a new, environmentally oriented discourse. Although the green economy presents notable advances in linking development and sustainability, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the promotion of profound structural transformations. A transition toward a truly sustainable model requires not only technological innovation, but also the strengthening of inclusive environmental governance, the equitable redistribution of power and resources, and a fundamental reorientation of production and consumption patterns that underlie existing socio-environmental inequalities.