The latest UN data show that climate change, species extinction, and mountains of waste threaten our livelihoods. But one thing is clear: climate protection pays off – ecologically and economically – and offers the chance to secure our future if we act now.

By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle; Photo: Peter Beukema via Unsplash

The headlines of recent weeks are alarming: droughts, heat waves, storms, and floods – the UN’s new GEO-7 environmental report paints a bleak picture. Species are dying at a rate we can hardly imagine, mountains of waste are growing relentlessly, and temperatures continue to rise. Short-term decisions have brought the world to a critical point.

But there is also a clear message: climate protection pays off – ecologically and economically.

The numbers are impressive. Without countermeasures, global warming will soon reach values of two to three degrees. The loss of fertile soils, the growing plastic flood, and the economic damage caused by extreme weather add up to trillions in losses worldwide. At the same time, the report shows that those who act now can massively reduce the costs of the climate catastrophe.

The calculation is simple:

• To achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and protect endangered species, around eight trillion dollars are needed annually.
• The costs of inaction significantly exceed this investment: extreme weather already costs 143 billion dollars per year, and global economic output could shrink by at least four percent by 2050.
• If consistent action is taken, the economic benefits will exceed the investment costs from 2050 onwards – by 2070 they could reach 20 trillion dollars and later even 100 trillion.

Climate protection is therefore a win-win – for people, nature and the economy. The challenge lies not in the impossibility, but in the determination: we must act – cleverly, efficiently and now. The chance to change the world positively is within reach.

That’s why TransformIT Europe in Brussels in May 2026 will be more than just an expo and conference: it will be a forum for ideas, solutions and concrete strategies on how companies, politics and society can jointly secure the future.

Climate protection secures our livelihoods – and pays off financially. The key is that we take the issue seriously and tackle it properly. The time to act is now.

Sources & Links

• https://www.unep.org/resources/global-environment-outlook-7
• https://www.tagesschau.de/wissen/klima/un-umwelt-bericht-100.html
• https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/erneuerbare-energie-wind-und-sonne-liefern-inzwischen-fast-zwei-drittel-des-stroms-a-343b8799-ce2a-4506-9470-8bccd8487ec2
• https://www.bundesumweltministerium.de/pressemitteilung/nationale-klimaziele-ambitionen-zahlen-sich-laut-oecd-studie-aus
• https://w3.windmesse.de/windenergie/news/48204-deutschland-setzt-sich-auf-un-umweltkonferenz-fur-globale-umweltpolitische-losungen-ein