“Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet” explores how the foundational natural endowments of land, air, and water are under growing threat, putting at risk the very progress they helped create. Today, strains on these resources are intensifying and the report shows that over 90 percent of the world is exposed to poor air quality, degraded land, or water stress.
The report, supported by the KGGTF, warns that these hidden costs are too large to ignore and demonstrates that more efficient resource use—like better nitrogen management and forest restoration—yields benefits that far exceed the costs. It also urges a shift to cleaner sectors and producing “better things,” noting that these provide new sources of growth, creating more jobs per dollar invested. The findings are clear: Investing in nature is not only good for the planet, it is smart development.
The report is co-authored by Damania, Richard; Ebadi, Ebad; Mayr, Kentaro; Russ, Jason; Zaveri, Esha.