The OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030 provides analyses of economic and environmental trends to 2030, and simulations of policy actions to address the key challenges. This publication highlights a mix of policies that can address the main challenges that we face, including climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and the health impacts of pollution, in a cost-effective way. This edition reflects developments in both OECD countries and Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China, South Africa (BRIICS), and discusses how they might better co-operate on global and local environmental problem-solving. OECD presents simulations of policy actions to address the key challenges according to a traffic light system where the red light issues need to be addressed urgently and the green light issues are well managed or have shown significant improvement. The following actions are prioritised by OECD in order to tackle key environmental problems and promote sustainable development:
use a mix of complementary policies to tackle the most challenging and complex environmental problems, with a strong emphasis on market-based instruments, such as taxes and tradable permits, in order to reduce the costs of action
apart from just the environmental ministries, environmental concerns need to be integrated into all relevant ministries including finance, economy and trade, and reflected in all production and consumption decisions
business and industries need to play a lead role, but governments must provide clear and consistent long-term policy frameworks to encourage eco-innovation and to safeguard environmental and social goals
improve partnerships between OECD and non-OECD countries to address global environmental challenges. Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa (BRIICS) in particular are key partners given their growing influence in the world economy and increasing share of global environmental pressures
further environmental co-operation between OECD and non-OECD countries can help spread knowledge and technological best practices
strengthen international environmental governance to better tackle transboundary and global environmental challenges