You have $1 million to spend on abating climate change. How would you spend it to get the most for your money? On more energy-efficient technologies? On raising fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles? On research for wind power generation?
According to a recent paper by David Wheeler and Dan Hammer, climate change experts at the Center for Global Development, the best strategy would be to spend that money on a combination of family planning and girls’ education in developing countries.
Data in their paper shows tonnage of CO2 that could be abated for a one million dollar investment. Family planning and girls' education combined save 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide being hoisted into the upper atmosphere, while measures like an emphasis on solar energy or hybrid cars save only 35-40,000 tons apiece.
