Mobilizing the investment needed to complete the net-zero transition will require broad public backing and participation. Given that people living in poverty are less likely to support climate action, simultaneous efforts to improve living standards are essential.

The world’s 28 poorest countries are facing growing social, economic, and political distress, owing to rising debt burdens, diminishing development prospects, and chronic underinvestment. The world’s wealthier countries have chosen exactly the worst moment to become less generous with aid and development assistance.

As climate change worsens, we must move beyond technological fixes that accelerate production and promote consumption. Indigenous practices and tools, like the traditional halibut fishing hook of the Pacific Northwest, demonstrate the importance of approaching design with a deep knowledge of and respect for the environment.

Is China’s economy in real trouble, or is the pessimism unwarranted? The answer likely depends on whether Xi’s authoritarianism erodes trust in property rights.