The great advance over the last few years has  been the translation of this challenge from  environmental or moral arguments to an  economic, and now commercial, discourse.

As highlighted in our Turning Point series, the reality  is now clear: the progression of climate change, if  unchecked, could slow economic growth (by some  USD$178 trillion in net present value terms from  2021-2070) and destroy jobs and communities; while  the economics of addressing climate change, with an  active and global transition, could generate economic  growth (by some USD$43 trillion in net present value  terms from 2021-2070), jobs, and incomes for people  around the world.

Our capacity to navigate the task ahead is informed  by our understanding of structural economic change  and the dynamics that will play out during the fastest  industrial revolution the world has ever seen. 

Reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 will  fundamentally change the global economy through  hard shifts in industrial policy, energy systems, and  consumer behavior– how resources are allocated,  and the perceived fairness of the processes involved  in this allocation, are live and critical issues that will  define history.