Recent Release | 10 Jan 2023

The Global Green Economy: Understanding and capturing the opportunity

Economic Consulting Team

Oxford Economics

The global green economy

As each year passes, the climate emergency facing the planet becomes ever more alarming. But this trajectory is increasingly being met by the rapid emergence of new technologies and expertise that are focused on tackling it. As a result, we can now discern the emergence of a future green economy; one that harnesses human ingenuity to protect the planet’s future.  

But what is the green economy? How large is it? How will it grow? And how can it be developed in a way that drives prosperity and inclusiveness, as well as environmental sustainability? 

These are the questions that a team of climate specialists, industry experts and economists from Arup and Oxford Economics spent the last 12 months addressing. Our goal is to help governments, investors and communities better understand the opportunities a green economy represents. In this study, we provide a new resource to support the strategic economic decision making required to seize those opportunities, and to place the global economy on an environmentally sustainable track. We estimate that the transition to a net zero emissions environment by 2050 will create new industries worth $10.3 trillion to the global economy by that same year. 

The study addresses three key questions:
• What is the green economy, and what economic activities represent it?
• What is the size of the green economy? And what opportunities does the world’s transition to a net zero emissions environment present?
• How can countries and companies identify and capture the right green economy opportunities?

Download the report

About the team

Our Economic Consulting team are world leaders in quantitative economic analysis, working with clients around the globe and across sectors to build models, forecast markets and evaluate interventions using state-of-the art techniques. Lead consultants on this project were:

James Lambert

Director of Economic Consulting, Asia

+65 6850 0118

James Lambert

Director of Economic Consulting, Asia

Singapore

James is the Director of Oxford Economics’ economic consulting services in Asia.

James moved to this role from Oxford Economics’ London office, where he headed up a team dedicated to exploring the economic impact of technology. He delivered high profile studies on the growth of the digital economy, the impact of automation and the implications for the labour market.

Prior to joining Oxford Economics, James spent over six years in the Government Economics Service. He worked in economics teams of the Cabinet Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Transport. There, he gained experience in microeconomic analysis and impact assessment as well as international macroeconomics, economic risk analysis and energy security. In the FCO, James spent three years working on economic issues in East and South East Asia. He also previously worked for the International Labour Organization.

Matthew Tinsley

Lead Economist, Economics & Sustainability

+44 (0) 203 910 8000

Matthew Tinsley

Lead Economist, Economics & Sustainability

London, United Kingdom

Matt joined Oxford Economics’ Economic Impact team in 2014. In his time with the company, he has worked on a diverse range of Economic Impact studies, including in the creative industries, tourism and retail sectors.

Between 2019 and 2022, Matt was based in our Singapore office, supporting the development of a specialist Economic Impact team there, before relocating back to London to work in the Economics and Sustainability team. Matt holds both a BSc (Hons) and an MSc (Hons) in Economics, from the University of Bristol.

Tom Rogers

Associate Director, Capital Projects and Assets Consulting

+44 (0) 203 910 8047

Private: Tom Rogers

Associate Director, Capital Projects and Assets Consulting

London, United Kingdom

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