Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Gita Gopinath warns of pollution's economic cost
Gita Gopinath, a famous economist, spoke at a big meeting in Davos.
She said that pollution is much worse for the economy than trade taxes.
Pollution makes people sick, which costs a lot of money in healthcare and lost work.
In India, it causes many deaths and costs the country a lot of money.
She wants leaders to take pollution seriously because fixing it can help the economy and people's health.
Gita Gopinath warned that pollution poses a greater economic threat than trade tariffs.
Air pollution costs the global economy about $5.7 trillion annually, or 4.8% of world GDP.
In India, pollution is linked to 1.7 million deaths annually and costs up to $150 billion in economic impact.
Pollution reduces labor productivity, increases healthcare costs, and undermines economic growth.
Gopinath called for stronger clean air regulations and investments in clean energy and sustainable transport.
- Who
- Gita Gopinath, Harvard economist and former IMF Chief Economist
- What
- Warning about the economic cost of pollution
- When
- World Economic Forum in Davos this month
- Where
- Davos, Switzerland
- Why
- To highlight the economic impact of pollution, which is greater than trade tariffs
- Speaker
- Gita Gopinath
- Event
- World Economic Forum in Davos
- Global welfare costs of pollution
- $5.7 trillion annually
- Annual economic impact in India
- Up to $150 billion
- Percentage of global GDP affected
- 4.8%
- Percentage of India's GDP affected
- 1.7%
- Annual deaths in India due to pollution
- 1.7 million
