COP21: A Good Deal for Climate and for Growth

The author asserts that the Paris agreement's success is rooted in the collapsing cost gap between clean and fossil energy and the increasing profitability of low-carbon investments. The text highlights that private sector investment is driving climate finance, which grew 18% to $391 billion in the previous year. Specific examples are provided of economic opportunities in the U.S., Europe, India, China, Indonesia, and Brazil, suggesting that the transition to low-carbon energy and sustainable agriculture can unlock trillions in economic value.

• The Paris agreement is underpinned by a global recognition that economic growth and climate action are compatible, driven by the fact that cost differences between clean and fossil energy have significantly decreased.
• Climate finance saw an 18% increase to $391 billion in the previous year, with the majority of this funding originating from the private sector, supported by government policies.
• Specific regional economic opportunities for climate action include the potential for the U.S. and Europe to lower electricity costs by 20% through utility model adjustments, and India's ability to meet wind power targets as wind becomes cost-competitive with imported coal.
• In Brazil, forest protection policies have helped reduce deforestation rates by half, resulting in annual emission reductions that exceed the combined impact of all renewable energy in Europe.
• The transition to a low-carbon energy system and the adoption of productive agriculture and forest protection are estimated to potentially free up trillions of dollars.

APA

Heller, T. C. (2015). COP21: A Good Deal for Climate and for Growth. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/cop21-a-good-deal-for-climate-and-for-growth/

Chicago

Heller, Thomas C. COP21: A Good Deal for Climate and for Growth. Climate Policy Initiative, 2015. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/cop21-a-good-deal-for-climate-and-for-growth/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Heller |first1=Thomas C. |title=COP21: A Good Deal for Climate and for Growth |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=13 December 2015 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/cop21-a-good-deal-for-climate-and-for-growth/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{heller2015cop21, author = {Heller, Thomas C.}, title = {{COP21: A Good Deal for Climate and for Growth}}, publisher = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2015}, month = dec, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/cop21-a-good-deal-for-climate-and-for-growth/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }