The global energy and growth challenge

Speaker: Michael Greenstone
Chair: Robin Burgess
Discussant:  Nicholas Stern

Economic growth depends critically on access to reliable energy. However, in much of the world, access to energy remains low and supply is often unreliable.  At the same time, the world’s energy choices are leading to levels of pollution that are substantially shortening people’s lives and causing climate change. The energy and growth challenge requires identifying solutions to these problems of access to inexpensive and reliable energy, while limiting environmental damage and guarding against disruptive climate change.

In this public lecture hosted by the IGC, the Grantham Institute, and LSE Department of Economics, Michael Greenstone explored the key energy trends, especially in developing countries, and outlined solutions to the energy and growth challenge that determines the well-being of the billions of people around the planet.

Michael Greenstone is a Research Programme Director for the IGC's energy research programme. He is the Milton Friedman Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and the Director of the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago.

Robin Burgess is the Director of the IGC, a Professor of Economics at LSE, and Director of the Economic Organisation and Public Policy Programme at the London School of Economics.

Nicholas Stern is the IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government, Chairman of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, and Head of the India Observatory at the London School of Economics.