Ninety percent of the world lives with either degraded land, unhealthy air, or water stress, according to a new World Bank report, however, restoring natural systems is possible and can yield high returns.

In low-income countries alone, eight of out ten people live without all three – healthy air, water, and land – according to the report, Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet. This poses major constraints to economic growth and opportunity. New evidence shows that the loss of forests disrupts rainfall, dries soils, and worsens droughts, costing billions of dollars. The report also identifies a nitrogen paradox where fertilizers boost yields, but overuse in some regions harms crops and ecosystems, costing as much as $3.4 trillion annually. And air and water pollution silently damage health, productivity, and cognition, thereby sapping human potential.

If managed well, however, nature can create jobs, drive economic growth, and build resilience.  Using natural resources more efficiently could reduce pollution by as much as 50 percent. Improving farm-level practices of nitrogen fertilizer use can deliver 25 times greater benefits than their cost, while boosting crop yields. Improving water and sanitation services could be lifesaving: chlorinating water at point of use could save a quarter of the children that prematurely die from water-related issues. “Pollution markets” not only reduce air pollution, they are also extremely cost effective: each $1 spent yields about $26–$215 in benefits.

At this online seminar, Richard Damania, Chief Economist for Sustainable Development Practice Group, and the co-author of the report, will present the main points.  This online seminar will be conducted in English, without interpretation into Japanese. 

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