Stiglitz: Green transition is an opportunity to accelerate economic growth – Economy

The Economist Joseph Stiglitz argues that the green transition not only brings an “opportunity to rethink the economy” but also “can accelerate economic growth” and “raise the quality of life” of populations.

Starting from the fact that, for the first time in the history of the planet, we are living beyond planetary limits (there are nine identified by Rockström), the Nobel Prize for Economics (2001) reviewed the policies that both in Europe and the United States have been put in place to respond to climate change, to make it clear, however, that the problem is “global” and that is how it must be attacked.

In the opening speech of the Business Sustainability 20|30 Grand Conference, which takes place this Tuesday, at Nova SBE, in Cascais, the author of books such as “Pessoas, Poder e Lucro” and “The Road to Freedom – Economics and the Good Society”, recently published, pointed out that the transition to a more sustainable world can accelerate economic growth, both on the supply and demand sides, “if the right policies are put in place”, which include, in particular, the development of new technologies or innovation in terms of renewable energy, in this case with just a “little push” from governments. What is needed? Stiglitz is peremptory: a “comprehensive agenda” that involves all sectors. And above all “all countries”. Although I recognize that Europe has been at the forefront and is seen as a reference unlike the United States where climate change has become a “very politicized” issue – it is necessary to take into account the actual impact on the ground.

And, in this regard, he pointed out, for example, the fact that the majority of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are produced in developing countries when historically they came from the most industrialized nations.