To meet climate targets and combat the inequality exacerbated by climate change, countries like China, India, and those in sub-Saharan Africa will need to pursue growth that is decoupled from carbon dioxide emissions.
This path differs significantly from the growth models of high-income countries. While technological advancements and lower renewable energy costs may enable “green” growth, achieving it will require solving for institutional and state capacity, political economy factors, and international climate financing, all while reducing poverty and inequality.
To help address these issues, the Yale Economic Growth Center is launching a policy-oriented research program that will bring together academic researchers from several fields, as well as public and private sector stakeholders from low- and middle-income countries.