How infrastructure investment and more efficient land use can support both growth and climate change activities

Time: 8 December 16:45 – 18:15
Place: Observer Room 10, Blue Zone, Le Bourget Conference Center, Paris

For both developing and developed nations, economic growth and climate change action go hand-in-hand. CPI’s analysis shows that actions to protect our climate can save trillions of dollars, increase prosperity and extend economic opportunity. In turn, growth can provide nations with the financial resources to invest in the systemic changes necessary to protect our climate.

As highlighted in the to-be-released NCE-Brookings-LSE paper (see a preview of CPI’s contributions to the paper in the PDF on this page) on “Delivering on Sustainable Infrastructure for Better Development and Better Climate”, investment in sustainable infrastructure provides an opportunity to meet economic and climate goals simultaneously. Over the next two decades the world will invest around $90 trillion in infrastructure assets in cities, land use, and energy in order to support economic growth. Ensuring this infrastructure is low-carbon does not need to cost more; instead it can bring economic benefits. The $100 billion in climate finance that developed countries have committed to raising each year through to 2020 needs to be seen in the broader context of the trillions that will be invested to support growth and development more generally.

Climate Policy Initiative, the Brookings Institution, and the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, hosted a panel discussion on how new approaches to infrastructure investment and land productivity can create a sustainable growth path for both developing and developed nations. Panelists shared experiences and plans, as well as ideas for an international framework that can support these strategies.

Speakers and Panelists

• Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair, Grantham Research Institute, LSE
• Izabella Teixeira, Brazilian Minister of the Environment
• Thomas Heller, Executive Director, Climate Policy Initiative
• Amar Bhattacharya, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
• Simon Upton, Director, Environment Directorate, OECD
• Larry Kramer, President, Hewlett Foundation
• Moderator: Dr. Barbara Buchner, Senior Director, Climate Policy Initiative