Fourth Biennial Lecture on Climate Change by the OECD Secretary-General

Angel Gurría is the Secretary-General of the OECD. Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. He is a contributing author to the Bretton Woods@75 Compendium, a collection of forward-looking essays written by the Bretton Woods Committee’s widely respected and influential membership and network. Our Author Spotlight series highlights the thought leadership of contributing authors to the Bretton Woods@75 initiative: a global dialogue to honor 75 years of economic progress and to revitalize the spirit of Bretton Woods now and for the future.

Climate: Reclaiming our Common Future

Fourth Biennial Lecture on Climate Change by Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General 3 July 2019, Geneva

As the world gets ready to begin implementing the Paris Agreement on climate next year, countries are looking to ramp up action and develop long-term, low-emissions development strategies. At the same time, carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise and climate change is increasingly impacting on people’s lives, disrupting national economies, exacerbating biodiversity loss and transforming ecosystems, including the ocean. The need for urgent, strong, co-operative action based on mutual trust and understanding has never been higher.

In his fourth biennial climate change lecture, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría focuses on how countries can overcome the numerous political, economic and social barriers to achieve the rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions needed to safeguard our common future. The Secretary-General argues that a shift in perspective is needed to ensure better two-way alignment between climate and wider societal goals