Sustainability saves lives and the global economy. Investing in a sustainable planet could extend millions of lives, end hunger, and ultimately generate trillions of dollars a year for the worldwide economy.
That is the conclusion of 287 scientists from 82 countries in the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) ‘s Global Environmental Outlook, the most comprehensive report the agency has ever published. It evaluates the state of the planet, the risks of inaction, and the benefits of a global sustainability transformation.
The report’s central message is clear: a rapid shift toward sustainability is essential for human well-being, planetary health, and global economic stability — and the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Economic and social damage
The report considers various scenarios. The researchers involved point out that greenhouse gas emissions set a record last year, indicating the end of climate change remains a long way off.
If this trend continues, we are heading for a temperature rise of more than two degrees Celsius by the end of the century, the mass extinction of species, and increasing air pollution. Add to that deforestation, the loss of fertile soil, and the annual waste mountain of 2 billion tons, and you see that humans are causing significant economic and social damage.
Extreme weather, which is becoming more frequent as the Earth warms, has already cost an estimated $143 billion annually over the past two decades. If insufficient action is taken to reduce emissions quickly, the costs will only rise further, scientists warn. By 2050, that would cost about 4 percent of the global economy, perhaps as much as 20 percent by the end of the century.
Radical change
However, according to UNEP, a radical change could still bring relief. We must work toward phasing out harmful subsidies and focusing on a circular economy. Furthermore, the energy sector must be decarbonized, and people must transition to a healthy and sustainable diet that reduces food waste. Finally, better protection of biodiversity and ecosystems is also essential.
Large-scale investments are needed in the coming decades – about 8 trillion dollars – to address significant threats, such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. “The costs of inaction are much higher,” the report says.
‘A simple choice for humanity’
Transition scenarios indicate that about nine million premature deaths could be avoided by 2050, mainly due to lower air pollution. Sustainable food systems and land management could lift about 100 million people out of extreme poverty. Transforming energy, land use, and industry could yield trillions of dollars in economic gains per year.
UNEP recognizes that there are indeed things moving in the right direction, but they are evolving too slowly to make a difference on a global scale. According to UNEP Director Inger Andersen, the report is “a simple choice” for humanity: “Do we continue on a path toward a future ravaged by climate change, environmental degradation, degraded lands, and polluted air, or do we move toward a healthy planet, healthy people, and healthy economies?”
