The Economics of a Livable Planet

Key Messages

Land, air, and water underpin a livable planet. But today all are under threat with both global and increasingly severe local impacts.

 

90% of people globally live with ONE of either degraded land, or unhealthy air, or water stress.         

80% of people in low-income countries live with ALL three environmental stressors - degraded land, unhealthy air and water stress. 

Across all three systems, change is possible and worth it, unlocking surprisingly high returns in some sectors. A cleaner economy can also create more jobs.

To get it right, it’s important to fix the system, not just the symptoms:

 

Inform: Information is power. From air pollution monitors to satellite imagery, real-time data helps governments target problems, empowers citizens, and drives accountability.

 

Enable: Policies work best when they work together. A systems approach aligns actions across sectors and time, helping avoid unintended consequences like pollution shifting or trade-offs between efficiency and equity.

 

Evaluate: Learning beats guessing. Regular evaluation keeps policies on track, helps scale what works, and ensures reforms can adapt to shifting realities. In a fast-changing world, smart feedback is as essential as smart design.