Hitting toughest climate target will save world $30tn in damages, analysis shows

Almost all nations would benefit economically from keeping global warming to 1.5C, a new study indicates

Achieving the toughest climate change target set in the global Paris agreement will save the world about $30tn in damages, far more than the costs of cutting carbon emissions, according to a new economic analysis.

Most nations, representing 90% of global population, would benefit economically from keeping global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, the research indicates. This includes almost all the world's poorest countries, as well as the three biggest economies - the US, China and Japan - contradicting the claim of US president, Donald Trump, that climate action is too costly.