## Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough/index.md) - [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough/index.json) - [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough/bundle-manifest.json) ## Bibliographic details - Authors: DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, CHRISTINE LAGARDE - Published: December 1, 2019 --- ### Nature and the global economy - Nature—a stable climate, reliable freshwater, forests, and other natural resources—is what makes industry possible. - We cannot have long-term human development without a steady climate and a healthy natural world. - In our current model these goals sometimes seem to collide, and our economic pursuits encroach too closely on nature. ### Human disconnection and risks - By some estimates, more than 50 percent of the world’s population is now urbanized, increasing the likelihood of people losing touch with nature. - With the projected rise in ocean levels and increase in the average temperature of the planet, large swaths of land, even whole countries, will become uninhabitable, triggering mass climate-induced migration. - If we don’t take decisive action in the next 10 to 20 years, the damage will have passed irreversible tipping points. ### Waste, overconsumption, and natural capital - Waste is identified as the enemy: wasting food, energy, or materials undermines sustainability. - Producing plastics fated to end up as litter is highlighted as waste that particularly pollutes oceans. - Natural capital must be protected so it can continue to provide benefits well into the future. - Analogy: in finance we would not eat into capital to depletion; similarly, we must avoid depleting fish stocks, forests, and other natural resources. ### Pricing, subsidies, and economic signals - The price of fossil fuel energy should reflect not only production costs but also environmental costs—a price tag on carbon and other greenhouse gases is advocated. - Energy subsidies that encourage continued search for new fossil fuels or promote overuse and waste must be eliminated. - IMF research cited: the implicit global subsidy from undercharging for energy and its environmental costs in 2017 was a staggering $5.2 trillion, or 6.5 percent of world GDP. ### Change, actors, and policy recommendations - Change must begin now and encompass all actors: - Private sector: stop supporting or subsidizing industries and activities that damage the planet; invest in sustainable development. - Governments: roll out policies to fight climate change and the destruction of nature, including promotion of clean-technology research and development. - Individuals and businesses: live by the injunction to “do no harm,” reducing overconsumption and unsustainable production. - Youth movements (e.g., Greta Thunberg and others) are cited as a catalyst for action and a source of hope. ### Hope, resilience, and urgency - Nature is resilient and some damage can still be reversed. - Time is running out; decisive action is required within the next 10 to 20 years to avoid irreversible tipping points. - Moral imperative framed: future generations will reproach inaction—“you knew it was happening, and you did nothing.” *Source: Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019 — IMF web landing page (canonical URL provided).* --- ## Content in this bundle - **أعظم عمل توازني - الطبيعة والاقتصاد العالمي** - [أعظم عمل توازني - الطبيعة والاقتصاد العالمي (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/ar/attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [أعظم عمل توازني - الطبيعة والاقتصاد العالمي (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/ar/attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Un equilibrio muy difícil ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Diciembre de 2019** - [Un equilibrio muy difícil ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Diciembre de 2019 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/es/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Un equilibrio muy difícil ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Diciembre de 2019 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/es/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Un équilibre primordial** - [Un équilibre primordial (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/fr/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Un équilibre primordial (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/fr/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **この地球と大切なバランス — 世界経済の** - [この地球と大切なバランス — 世界経済の (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/jp/attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [この地球と大切なバランス — 世界経済の (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/jp/attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019** - [Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Жизненно важное равновесие– Финансы и развитие – декабрь 2019 года** - [Жизненно важное равновесие– Финансы и развитие – декабрь 2019 года (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/ru/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Жизненно важное равновесие– Финансы и развитие – декабрь 2019 года (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/ru/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019** - [Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/zh-do-not-use-rekia/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Nature, Climate Change and the Global Economy – IMF F&D | DECEMBER 2019 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/december/zh-do-not-use-rekia/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} --- _Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/nature-climate-and-the-global-economy-lagarde-attenborough_