How we can curb climate change by spending two percent more on everything
1,337,743 views | Jens Burchardt • TED@BCG
Would you pay two percent more for the carbon-neutral version of the products you buy and use every day? In this innovative talk, climate pathfinder Jens Burchardt walks us through the costs and considerations of producing planet-friendly products -- from creation to purchase -- and explains why curbing climate change doesn't have to break the bank. It's an inspiring demonstration of how the barriers to a greener world may not be as insurmountable as we think.
Would you pay two percent more for the carbon-neutral version of the products you buy and use every day? In this innovative talk, climate pathfinder Jens Burchardt walks us through the costs and considerations of producing planet-friendly products -- from creation to purchase -- and explains why curbing climate change doesn't have to break the bank. It's an inspiring demonstration of how the barriers to a greener world may not be as insurmountable as we think.
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with BCG. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about the TED Institute.About the speaker
Jens Burchardt is BCG's global expert on climate impact and cofounder of its Center for Climate Action.
Jens Burchardt et al. | World Economic Forum, 2021 | Article
"Net Zero Challenge: The Supply Chain Opportunity"
This is the study on which this talk is based. Together with the World Economic Forum, we analyzed eight end-to-end supply chains responsible for more than half of all global emissions, looked at the impact and economics of more than 100 emission reduction levers, and discussed with experts from more than 30 global companies at the forefront of addressing supply chain emissions. Our perspective: this is a huge opportunity for global climate action.
Jens Burchardt et al. | Boston Consulting Group, 2021 | Article
"Supply Chains as a Game Changer for Global Climate Action"
For interested readers with a bit less time on their hands: summary article on the above research paper.
Marco Duso et al. | Boston Consulting Group, 2020 | Article
"Why Climate Change Is No Prisoner’s Dilemma"
A broader, yet pointed assessment on why the notion that climate change is a classic "prisoner's dilemma" is flawed — and why the economic threat of more aggressive climate action is vastly overstated. The short-term solution to the climate challenge lies in individual action from willing companies, countries and individuals, who each have an economic self-interest to act much faster. Tragically, many are still unaware.
Jens Burchardt et al. | Boston Consulting Group, 2018 | Article
"The Economic Case for Combating Climate Change"
More hopeful messages: the largest share of a global Paris pathway could be achieved with existing and proven technologies. And contrary to widespread belief, countries that take ambitious action against climate change can benefit macro-economically. Time to move. This paper outlines how.
Philipp Gerbert | Boston Consulting Group & Prognos, 2018 | Article
"Klimapfade für Deutschland"
For Germans and those who speak the language. Still one of the most comprehensive assessments globally on how to decarbonize a developed economy — and on what the macroeconomic impact would be. Spoiler alert: it can be surprisingly positive.
David Wallace-Wells | Random House, 2019 | Book
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming
The best book ever written on the climate crisis (in my view). A humblingly sober travelogue of humanity's unfortunately likely future — which could be worse, much worse, than you think. Which at the same time makes this an impassioned call to action. The responsibility to avoid catastrophe now belongs to a single generation — ours.
Steven Pinker | Penguin, 2018 | Book
Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress
To conclude on a much more optimistic note: not really focused on the climate crisis, but one of my favorite books of all time. An elegant, deeply intellectual ode to progress and liberal democracy. With a rigorous display of data, Steven Pinker documents that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, happiness … are on the rise globally. With reason, science and technological progress, we have the tools to also tackle humanity’s severest threat to date: climate change.
About TED Institute
Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with BCG. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about the TED Institute.