'Better Growth, Better Climate'—Guidance For Resource-Efficient Economic Development

New report by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate describes specific actions which can strengthen economic performance and reduce climate change risks. A key strategy is to build better, more productive cities.

2 minute read

September 17, 2014, 8:00 AM PDT

By Todd Litman


The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is a major new international initiative to provide independent and authoritative evidence on actions which can strengthen economic performance and reduce climate change risks. It is a coalition of major international organizations, guided by some of the world's leading economists and research organizations. 

Today the Commission released a report, Better Growth, Better Climate which sets out a ten point Global Action Plan for governments and businesses to secure economic development in a low-carbon economy. This report is based on research conducted by a global partnership of eight leading research institutes: World Resources Institute (WRI, Managing Partner), Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), LSE Cities, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Tsinghua University.

Chapter 2 explores the roles that resource-efficient cities can play in achieving these goals. Building more productive cities can boost economic prosperity and help tackle climate change. The Commission used a database of the world’s largest cities to identify those that are particularly important in terms of impacts on the global economy and climate out to 2030. The analysis shows these 468 cities will account for over 60 percent of global income growth between 2012 and 2030, and with business-as-usual development patterns they will account for 45 percent of global energy-related emissions. Actions that increase resource efficiency in these cities can be particularly effective at achieving global economy and climate goals.



Tuesday, September 16, 2014 in Better Growth Better Climate

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

3 hours ago - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

4 hours ago - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

5 hours ago - Governing