Editor’s Note: This blog draws from the new working paper, “Blending climate funds to finance low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure,” which can be downloaded here.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
The world’s core infrastructure—including our transport and energy systems, buildings, industry, and land-related activities—produce more than 60 percent of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. At the same time, the world has significant infrastructure needs. From 2015-2030, approximately $90 trillion of infrastructure investment is needed, a doubling of the global capital stock.
Yet, unless the new infrastructure is low-carbon and climate resilient (LCR), the world will be locked into a high-carbon pathway and will miss the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius by 2050. LCR infrastructure includes renewable energy, mass transit, and energy efficiency.
The Brookings Institute
Joshua P. Meltzer and Christina Constantine
Thursday, July 19, 2018