Signal UN: Every US$1 invested in climate and clean-air action can return US$15

Summary

The UN Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition released a joint report titled Hidden Assets: The Economic and Health Case for Climate and Clean Air Action. It is described as the first comprehensive global economic assessment of tackling climate change and air pollution together. The central finding is that every dollar invested in combined climate and air-quality action can generate about 15 dollars in economic benefit, a higher return than addressing the two problems separately. That 15-dollar figure combines measurable market benefits, such as lower healthcare costs, higher labor productivity and avoided physical damage, with the monetary value of fewer premature deaths and healthier lives. The assessment covers 25 measures across six major economic sectors, including renewable energy deployment, electric vehicles and clean cooking fuels.