fbpx ...

Powering Net Zero Commitments

74% of Economists Says Net Zero Actions are Economically Desirable

why do we need to conserve resources

74% of economists polled states that economic benefits from net-zero emissions by 2050 can outweigh the cost of achieving it. An increasing large number of climate economists state that the world needs to take “immediate and drastic action” in order to combat climate change. This is according to a survey published Tuesday by the US based reputable Institute for Policy Integrity.

Not doing so could cost the planet ABOUT $1.7 trillion a year by the middle of the decade, with figures expected to rise to around $30 trillion a year by 2075. This according to estimates made by 738 economists surveyed by New York University’s Institute for Policy Integrity from across the globe.

“People joke about how economists can’t agree on most things,” said Derek Sylvan, the institute’s strategy director and one of the authors of the survey. “But we seem to find a pretty strong level of consensus” on the economic role climate action plays.

Three-quarters of the respondents strongly agrees that drastic action was necessary. This is compared to the result of the poll in 2015, when just half of the economist agreed.

Another question on attaining net zero carbon emissions by 2050 was asked and two-thirds of respondents stated that the cost of investing towards such a global goal was outweighed by the economic benefits it would bring, including preserving coastal assets and infrastructure, preventing natural disasters and protecting food supplies.

In order to avoid catastrophic climate change, scientists have said the world needs to attain net-zero emissions status by 2050. Sylvan stated he was surprised that so many net-zero actions were seen as economically desirable, even on the stringent timeline.

The majority of the international climate economists polled in February stated they had become increasingly concerned about climate change over the past 5 years. The most prevalent reason for this was due to the exacerbation of extreme weather events in recent times, particularly climate-linked heatwave and wildfires.

There were over 7,300 major natural disaster from 2000 to 2019. These disasters killed around 1.2 million people, creating $3 trillion in damages. This is according to the UN Office on Disaster Risk Reduction. This compares to around 4,200 disasters killing 1.9 million and causing $1.6 trillion in losses over the previous 20 years.

“Some places are more exposed, and current levels of income matter a great deal,” said Michael Greenstone, an economist at the University of Chicago and the director of the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago.

The impact from climate change is sure to impact nations and people all over the world. Economic disparities can make it difficult to apply basic cost-benefit analyses, Greenstone said. For example, a poor family will feel economic losses more acutely than a wealthy family.

“How do we think about a dollar of climate damage to (billionaires) Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos versus a family of four living below the poverty line? I think as a society we have to make a judgment about that.”

As initially reported by Reuters.

Share this article on your social networks

Related Posts

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Country: Understanding the Global Impact

Greenhouse gas emissions by country: Understanding the global impact. In this article, we will take a closer look at the top greenhouse gas emitting countries, sources of emissions, and efforts being made by countries to reduce emissions through increasing the use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.

Read More
GHG Reporting: Understanding and Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting is the process of measuring, reporting, and ultimately reducing an organization’s emissions. In this article, we will explore the basics of GHG reporting including its importance in understanding and reducing emissions, the process of GHG reporting, the standards and protocols available, and the challenges that organisations may face

Read More
5 key takeouts from the new IPCC Climate Report

The most recent 3.675 pages IPCC report has been hailed as the most searing indictment of the planet’s climate predicament. Here are 5 key takeouts.

Read More
Overwhelming majority of Australians look to Brands to make a climate difference

The research, released today at Nine’s State of the Nation Sustainability virtual event, showed that despite everyday Australians making changes to live more sustainably, the majority feel that as a country, we are not doing enough, and brands need to lead the way.

Read More
67% of retail investors now prefer ESG investments

According to new research from behavioural finance experts, Oxford Risk, two out of three retail investors are considering transferring their investments into ESG propositions.

Read More
Massive and rapid swing. 75% of Australian businesses leaders believe world is at climate change tipping point: Deloitte Report

Australian business leaders are becoming a lot more concerned about climate change. This shift is according to a new report and it shows a significant shift in opinion in just 8 months.

Read More
Climate Impact Measurement and Disclosure Growing Quickly Among Businesses

Many of the world’s biggest organisations have begun to share information concerning their carbon footprint in a new move that embraces transparency as organisations are increasingly seeing value in measuring their impact.

Read More
Explosive research for Australian businesses: people are turning down high paying jobs for 1 surprising reason

employed by a company that did not do its part to address climate change.

Read More
Australia Ranks Last Out Of 60 Nations For Climate Crisis Response Policy

Australia’s government policy response to the climate crisis was ranked last in an assessment of 60 nations released at the current global climate summit in Glasgow

Read More