Site icon Conservation news

Global warming puts trillions at stake, but mitigation offers big economic gains

Two new reports this week look at the economics of global warming. The first, Risky Business, tallies the cost of climate change to the U.S., including tens-of-billions lost to destruction of coastal property, crop failures, drought, wildfires, and heatwaves. In contrast, the second report, by the World Bank, turns climate change economics on its head: the report finds that tackling global warming would not cripple the global economy—as often touted—but boost it significantly, up to $2.3 trillion annually.



“Climate change poses a severe risk to global economic stability, but it doesn’t have to be like this,” said World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. “At the World Bank Group, we believe it’s possible to reduce emissions and deliver jobs and economic opportunity, while also cutting health care and energy costs.”



The World Bank report—called Climate-Smart Development: Adding Up the Benefits of Actions that Help Build Prosperity, End Poverty and Combat Climate Change—looks at the multi-layered benefits of possible projects and policies that focus on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Focusing on big countries, like the U.S., Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and the EU, the report attacks the idea that combatting global warming would devastate economies.



“This study makes the case for actions that save lives, create jobs, grow economies and, at the same time, slow the rate of climate change. We place ourselves and our children at peril if we ignore these opportunities,” noted Rachel Kyte, Vice President and special envoy for climate change for the World Bank.




U.S. Coast Guard looks for survivors after New Orleans flooded during Hurricane Katrina. Photo by: U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi.

U.S. Coast Guard looks for survivors after New Orleans flooded during Hurricane Katrina. Photo by: U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi.


The report estimated that if countries implement the right programs—such as clean-energy transportation and energy efficiency—fighting climate change could actually boost the global GDP by $1.8 trillion and $2.6 trillion annually by 2030. These policies would also prevent nearly 100,000 premature deaths and keep 8.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from entering the atmosphere and warming the planet.



The U.S. report—issued by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former George W. Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson—instead focused on the economic impacts, versus opportunities, of global warming. The report predicted that global warming could leave up to $106 billion of coastal property under water by 2050 and up to $507 billion by 2100. It also warned that midwest crops could be withered by growing heat, including a 19 percent decline by 2050 and a 63 percent decline by the turn of the century.



“If we act immediately, we can still avoid most of the worst impacts of climate change and significantly reduce the odds of catastrophic outcomes,” Paulson said. And, according to the World Bank, it would actually help the economy too.











Related articles


EPA carbon proposal may be crucial step in addressing global climate change

(06/10/2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) June 2nd regulation proposal hit all the expected chords. Following on the heels of a January regulation for new power plants, the Clean Power Plan focuses on all existing electric generation. By 2030, the plan aims to reduce 2005-level carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent.

Ignoring boreal forests could speed up global warming

(06/04/2014) Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity have caused global air and sea surface temperatures to rise approximately 0.8 Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) since the beginning of the 20th century, contributing to a plethora of problems worldwide from rising sea levels to desertification. A new study finds that global temperatures may start to increase even faster if more is not done to protect Earth’s boreal forests.

April 2014: 350th month in a row with temperatures above average

(06/04/2014) This April was notable for being the 350th month in a row where temperatures exceeded the 20th Century average. This means, monthly global temperatures have not fallen below average for even a single month since February 1985.

Turning point? U.S. and China announce major actions on global warming

(06/03/2014) Could 2014 be a turning point for efforts to slash global greenhouse gas emissions? Maybe: in less than 24 hours the world’s two largest emitters of carbon dioxide announced plans to finally rein-in the gas most responsible for global warming.

Animals bark, screech, and howl for action on global warming (PHOTOS)

(06/02/2014) On May 22nd, zoos and aquariums around the world creatively called for action on global warming. Dubbed ‘Show the Wild Face of Climate Change,’ the event involved over 70 institutions from 25 countries on all seven continents.

Upcoming EPA Proposal could put America back on track to lead on global warming

(05/27/2014) A regulation proposal on coal plants that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release in June could be great news for the climate change initiative. The EPA rolled out tough regulations on new constructions of electric generation facilities in January, but the nation’s 1,500 existing power plants were left unaffected.

Extreme cold and drought in U.S. linked to climate change

(05/23/2014) The U.S. Midwest and Northeast experienced one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record this past season. This might seem contrary to warming trends forecast by climate scientists, but a new analysis released today in Science points out that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions may actually have contributed to the well-below average temperatures seen in parts of the U.S.

Climate change’s ominous secret

(05/21/2014) Climate change is happening and humans are causing it, primarily from the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by burning fossil fuels. This much we know. The ‘secret’ comes from changes happening in the fast-warming Arctic: we may be surprisingly close to an Earth that supports far fewer humans than it does today.

Exit mobile version