BANGKOK (AlertNet) – With two-thirds of the world’s population and some of its fastest growing economies, Asia-Pacific should be “the centre of gravity in the world economy throughout this century” – but climate change could wreck this potential, leading U.S. economist and sustainable development expert Jeffrey Sachs said on Wednesday.
The head of the Earth Institute at Columbia University urged countries in the region to embark on development that is sustainable, not only focusing on economic prosperity but also socially inclusive policies, environmental sustainability and good governance.
Asia-Pacific is becoming the main driver of growing world greenhouse gas emissions as its economy and population grows. That is thanks in part to China which is now the leading emitter, said Sachs. Scientists say excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are driving climate change.
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