Green growth entails several different kinds of processes: conversion to low-carbon energy, climate resilience, and response to climate shocks. Equity implies a fair sharing of the costs, within countries and between countries. The authors set out to explore some of the ways that equity has been considered in climate change discussions.

In 1987, a UN World Commission on Environment and Development report — ‘Our Common Future’ (Brundtland Report) — laid the basis for the concept of sustainability.