As I discussed in a previous post (Opportunities), we can do far more for our success in navigating Climate Change if we think about it as an opportunity to improve and grow. According to The New Climate Economy’s 2018 Report of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, there is a potential additional 26 trillion dollars of economic growth at stake compared to business as usual. That means that investing in green technology, sustainable infrastructure, and renewable resources is not the enemy of our monetary interests as it is often portrayed.

To focus in on one example of this kind of economic opportunity, I want to take a look at bicycle infrastructure. According to livablestreets.info “In Portland … compared with national averages, commuters annually travel 2.9 billion fewer miles, save 100 million hours for more desireable activity, and can spend $2.6 billion on more important goods or services.” This is not to say that new money is being created, but in this scenario, an inefficient system is being improved and replaced by one that allows people to live more sustainably AND more enjoyably. Furthermore, Elly Blue (author of Bikenomics: How Cycling Can Save The Economy) notes that “On average, urban freeways cost $60 million a mile to build. The best type of protected bike lanes cost between $170,000 and $250,000 per mile and need much less maintenance.” So the savings extend to municipalities as well. With more cycling, what other kinds of investment can cities and individuals make to improve their communities?

The options are plentiful. We can work to reforest and pull more carbon out of the atmosphere, create community gardens to decrease the carbon footprint of our food, and provide assistance to populations most vulnerable to climate change. We can phase out aging and inefficient infrastructure and expand our use of renewable energy. All of these things are optional now, but before too long will be the only sensible choice.

To see other ways countries, cities, and companies are investing in climate resilience, here is an exhaustive list of promises made at the recent UN Climate Action Summit.