UN says fighting pollution and climate change would lift global GDP

A United Nations (UN) report released on September 7, 2026 and covered by the daily Folha de S.Paulo finds that tackling air pollution and climate crises together could raise global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.8% by 2035.

The projection comes against a backdrop in which a significant share of the world's population remains exposed to pollution levels that exceed recommended global standards. The green transition seeks to mitigate the health and economic costs stemming from environmental degradation.

Economic growth and investment in clean technologies are part of current debates over how to align fiscal policies with long-term sustainability. A lack of adaptation to the climate crisis often translates into productivity losses and damage to productive infrastructure.

Image: FDRMRZUSA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons