We’re #1… cool

Reuters:

Mexico and Argentina are leading a shift to make the global economy more climate friendly, according to an index of “carbon competitiveness”, the London-based thinktank E3G said on Sunday.

G20 leaders meet at a summit on Sept 24-25 in Pittsburgh to help steer the global economy out of recession, and will also discuss ways to finance the fight against climate change.

Long-term policies to limit climate change are widely expected to force nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, favouring leaner, more efficient economies run on renewable and other low-carbon energy supplies.

“Countries that adapt quickly to a carbon-constrained world will be better able to deliver lasting prosperity for their citizens,” said the E3G report, “G20 Low Carbon Competitiveness”…

Otto the Inca mentions that Joseph Stiglitz is presenting a report tomorrow that looks at how we measure prosperity, relying less on Gross Domestic Product and more at “general well being”.  I haven’t a clue what he will be proposing, but Stiglitz is generally the best regarded economist in Latin America (one of the few gringos Latin Americans think “gets it”) and his focus on “quality of life” rather may change the way we think about economic rankings.

We may be doing better or worse than we are accustomed to think of ourselves.