Economy both cause and solution
The Economics Editor of The Guardian, Larry Elliott, argues that dealing with climate change will have a negative economic impact, but that the global economy is currently strong enough to take that impact. We are not sure that the net economic impact of dealing with climate change will be negative, given the impetus that these efforts provide for new technologies, for new forms of energy, and for more efficient use of energy and resources.
“A more rapid pace of growth adds to the pressure on the environment. Almost without exception, the recent scientific evidence has indicated that man-made factors are leading to global warming. As economies expand, they need more power, more steel, more concrete. As consumers get richer, they demand cars, holidays, flat-screen TVs. Feedback mechanisms come into play as well. Wealthier consumers can afford to put in air-conditioning to cope with the heat but cooling systems require even more power, which adds to carbon emissions and ultimately - assuming the science is right - to global temperatures.
Yet, perversely, the fact that the global economy is in a “sweet spot” has created the policy space to deal with the problem that a period of strong growth has itself helped to create. When unemployment is going through the roof, politicians want as much growth as they can get as soon as they can get it, and the environment is a long-term problem that can be put off until another day.”