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The WBCSD on Development
The world is experiencing a historic shift of economic and political power from the traditional base of industrialized countries in Europe and North America to the emerging economies. They will be home to 85% of the world’s estimated 9 billion inhabitants of 2050, most of who will live in cities.
Yet, poverty and inequity in many countries remain critical challenges for sustainable development and global stability. Poverty comes in many forms: about a third of the world’s population lives on less than 2 dollars a day and many suffer from malnutrition, have no access to health services, sanitation, electricity, safe drinking water, shelter or transportation.
Meeting the basic needs of a growing and increasingly urbanized population in developing countries – as well as the aspirations of their middle classes – will exponentially increase the demand for energy and natural resources, thereby further exacerbating the pressure on the world’s ecosystems.
Solving the seemingly conflicting imperatives of improving the living standards of the world’s population while preserving the environment will require a transition to a more inclusive, low-carbon and resource efficient economy.
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