One Earth
Several of the major economies of the world plan to stimulate their post-COVID recovery by spending on infrastructure. Among economists and environmentalists, there is a broad consensus that this spending represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a more sustainable global economy. The opportunity for transformation abounds in programs as diverse as the European Union and South Korean “Green New Deal” initiatives, the United Nations, United Kingdom, and United States “Build Back Better” programs, and China’s 2060 commitment to carbon neutrality and its “Belt and Road” initiative. The future context is enormous—in excess of $81 trillion USD will be required to meet global infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. Without this infrastructure—to include the construction and protection of navigation and transportation routes; the maintenance of sustainable food, energy, and material supply lines; and the provision of clean water and sanitation— human development will suffer in both developing and developed countries.
