UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- A major report released Wednesday by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate finds that bold climate action could deliver at least 26 trillion U.S. dollars in economic benefits through to 2030, compared with business-as-usual.
The report finds that over the last decade, there has been "tremendous technological and market progress driving the shift to a new climate economy. There are real benefits to be seen in terms of new jobs, economic savings, competitiveness and market opportunities, and improved wellbeing for people worldwide."
"We are at a unique 'use it or lose it' moment," said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister of Nigeria and co-chair of the global commission. "Policy makers should take their feet off the brakes, send a clear signal that the new growth story is here and that it comes with exciting economic and market opportunities. Twenty-six trillion dollars and a more sustainable planet are on offer, if we act decisively now."
"The purpose of this report is to demonstrate how to accelerate the shift to this new growth path," said Helen Mountford, program director of the New Climate Economy, the commission's flagship project, and lead author of the report.
"It lays out the benefits of doing so, the challenges ahead, and the clear accelerators or actions, that can be taken to fully reap the rewards of stronger, cleaner, and more equitable growth," she said.
The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is a major international initiative to examine how countries can achieve economic growth while dealing with the risks posed by climate change. The commission comprises former heads of government and finance ministers and leaders in the fields of economics and business, and was commissioned by seven countries -- Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and Britain -- as an independent initiative to report to the international community.
