The Right Health Investments

China's impressive economic development has led to terrible outdoor air pollution. At the same time however, indoor air pollution has declined substantially, and fewer people now die from air pollution in China because of less poverty and access to modern energy.

Lomborg writes in China's biggest English-language publication China Daily (500k+ copies) that with increased wealth, China can afford to protect more nature and reduce pollution.

From the news to late-night shows, much of the media makes it sound as if renewables are on the verge of taking over. But that’s far from reality. In 2019, the latest complete year of data, 81% of the world’s energy supply came from fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency. Even if all nations were to fulfill their current climate promises, the IEA estimates that fossil-fuel use would still make up 73% by 2040.

The Australian government's decision to step up its fight against the scourge of domestic violence does not just make moral sense: it is underpinned by a sound economic case too.

Researchers for Copenhagen Consensus recently conducted one of the first analyses of the total costs of violence worldwide, and found that gender-based violence – believed to affect around one in three women globally – has a considerably higher financial impact on society than many would think.