It's time for companies and investors to make 2016 a 'Year of Green Finance' by putting efforts to reduce emissions on their priority list for investment and risk management, writes Caio Koch-Weser.
India’s growth story, and the structural transformation it will bring about for our energy and urban systems, will likely be the most significant global shift of the early 21st century, write Rajat Kathuria and Aarsi Sagar.
The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate and its New Climate Economy project had one of the best months for pressing the momentum for a low-carbon future to media outlets around the world. This is thanks to the worldwide attention on COP21. Altogether, our coverage generated over 3,500 media articles in over 68 countries. Here are the highlights by country or region.
United Kingdom
Social media analytics show major positive conversation around climate action and economic growth, including most recently at COP21.
"Countries, cities and businesses can achieve not just a better climate, but also better economic growth. We can do well by doing good," writes President Felipe Calderón in USA Today.
"The cost of [fossil fuel] subsidies far outweighs the benefits and burdens the middle classes. Reforming the system can make energy infrastructure more efficient, shore up public finances and allow more targeted spending on public services," writes Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Financial Times.
Paris, 5 December, 2015: A new report from the New Climate Economy finds that land use practices that restore degraded agricultural or forest lands and protect natural areas could reduce emissions by as much as 9.0 Gt CO2e by 2030 while also delivering more productive agricultural lands and greater resilience of rural livelihoods.
"Greater ambition on renewable energy and reducing carbon intensity would lead to greater economic benefits for India. It is in our country’s interest to capitalise on the low-carbon economy," writes Naina Lal Kidwai in India Express.
A just transition should encourage all companies to plan ahead for decarbonisation, ensure that workers have the opportunities and skills required to take on new jobs, enable employees to plan for the future, and invest in community renewal, write Sharan Burrow and Paul Polman in Euractiv.