Adrien Bilal, Best Young Economist Award 2026: "Growth is not the enemy of climate policy, it is actually the opposite"

The recent storm Austen left over 100,000 households in Brittany without electricity, highlighting the severe impacts of climate change. This summer, the hottest since 1900, resulted in nearly 8,000 additional deaths and significant economic losses. Economic studies indicate that a 1°C rise in global temperatures could reduce GDP per capita by 20-30% in the long term. If temperatures increase by another 2°C by 2100, purchasing power could be halved. Health impacts also worsen with each degree of warming, leading to more deaths. Climate-related costs could reduce annual growth by nearly one percentage point, affecting purchasing power. However, well-designed global policies could limit warming and enhance growth, although benefits may take decades to materialize, impacting future generations.