Phillip Cocker: Climate action health, economic benefits

A new World Bank study has been released that finds that action on climate could spur massive economic plus health benefits over the next 15 years. It analyzed reforms that could spur cleaner transportation, more efficient industrial use of energy, and less energy-hungry buildings and appliances. It concluded that such reforms would create GDP growth of $1.8 trillion to $2.6 trillion per year by 2030.

“There are opportunities for cities like Hobart to implement the projects we need to reduce our emissions and to also reduce the threat to Tasmania’s and Hobart’s economy from changing climate Alderman Cocker said.

To quote the report” “Thanks to a growing body of research, it is now clear that climate-smart development can boost employment and can save millions of lives,” states the World Bank report, released Tuesday. “Smart development policies and projects can also slow the pace of adverse climate changes. Based on this new scientific understanding, and with the development of new economic modeling tools to quantify these benefits, it is clear that the objectives of economic development and climate protection can be complementary.”

“Taking action on climate change by improving transportation, clean energy use and smart development can boost our economic development and the status of Hobart as a modern city” Alderman Cocker said. “These are the economic changes we need to make Tasmania prosper. Things like electrification of Tasmania’s transport systems are extraordinary opportunities with a big cash prize available in reduced import bills”.

“We must also consider the impacts on a fire vulnerable city like Hobart if we don’t address climate action and adaption as serious matters requiring urgent attention.

http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/19703432/climate-smart-development-adding-up-benefits-actions-help-build-prosperity-end-poverty-combat-climate-change-vol-1-2-main-report

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2014/06/23/interactive-adding-up-benefits-climate-action
Alderman Philip Cocker Hobart City Council