In­vit­a­tion – Re­boot De­vel­op­ment: The Eco­nom­ics of a Liv­able Plan­et

Please join the Centre for Business and Development Studies for a presentation and discussion with Dr. Richard Damania, World Bank’s Chief Economist of the Sustainable Development Practice Group. He will present insights from the World Bank’s latest flagship report, Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet. 

The report presents new research highlighting the close links between land, water, air, and economic growth, making a strong case for integrated solutions that account for feedback loops and unintended consequences.

Key insights from the report include:

• Deforestation goes beyond the loss of trees and biodiversity – it disrupts water cycles, affecting energy systems and agriculture
• Biodiversity loss carries significant and often underestimated economic costs
• Known health hazards, such as air and water pollution, also reduce labor productivity, agricultural output, and deplete fisheries
• These interconnected pressures help explain why many developing countries face multiple, overlapping stressors

Understanding these linkages is crucial for designing policies that address root causes rather than shifting problems. Degraded natural wealth is therefore not only an environmental concern, but a clear economic liability. Yet a number of countries have demonstrated that achieving economic growth without harming the environment is possible.

The session will be followed by a Q&A, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Damania on these critical global challenges.

Richard Damania is the Chief Economist of the World Bank’s Planet department which covers environment, agriculture, climate and water. His work has spanned across multiple sectors and has helped the World Bank become an acknowledged thought-leader on matters relating to environment, water and the economy. Prior to joining the World Bank he held positions in academia and has published extensively with over 100 papers in scientific journals.

We warmly invite colleagues and students interested in sustainable development, economics, climate, and policy to attend.

Please register your participation by sending an e-mail to Lavinia Iosif-lazar: li.go@cbs.dk. 

The event is hosted by Maria Figueroa and Jacobo Ramirez, from the Centre for Business and Development Studies with support from Green Office and SLK Department.