Lack of climate action over 50 years will cost Australian economy $3.4tn and 880,000 jobs – report

(The Guardian, 1 Nov 2020) If policies promoting net zero emissions by 2050 are adopted 250,000 jobs would be created and $680bn added to the economy.

Australia’s economy will be 6% smaller, there will be 880,000 fewer jobs and $3.4tn in economic opportunities will be lost if the climate crisis goes unchecked for the next 50 years, a report says.

On the other hand, the analysis by consultancy Deloitte Access Economics found policies consistent with a target of net zero emissions by 2050 and keeping global warming to 1.5C could expand the economy by 2.6%, or $680bn to the economy, and create 250,000 jobs.

Deloitte focused on what it said was a fundamental flaw in how climate change is publicly considered – the idea that the costs of acting are weighed against an assumption the economy will keep growing if there are unconstrained emissions. Meanwhile, it said, the benefits of steps to tackle the issue were regularly downplayed.

The report suggested Australia would experience an economic hit on par with Covid-19 every year by 2050 if the climate crisis was not addressed.

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The Guardian, 1 Nov 2020: Lack of climate action over 50 years will cost Australian economy $3.4tn and 880,000 jobs – report