Reuters Poll: Climate inaction costlier than net zero transition

Ahead of crucial COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Reuters offered subscribers a comprehensive poll on the stakes for the global economy. The poll, the first of its kind by Reuters, surveyed a growing community of climate economists on the global cost to get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as the appropriate minimum pricing of carbon to achieve that goal. Despite widely differing methodologies, there was clear consensus among respondents on two points: the cost of climate change inaction would vastly exceed that of a managed transition towards Paris Agreement climate goals; and the earlier such a transition was launched, the less disruption it would cause. The survey also addressed financial burden-sharing between rich and poor nations.