Building a resilient recovery

Worldwide plastic production in 1950 stood at 500 million kilogrammes (or 0.5 megatonnes). By 2019, plastic production was 930 times greater, reaching 465 billion kg (or 465 Mt) – double the figure seen in the early 2000s, largely due to packaging and construction items.

Single-use plastic applications have been a major source of plastic production: in 2015 alone, plastic packaging constituted 141 million tonnes of waste, 46.7% of global plastic waste generation.

The use of paint, tyres and fabric poses its own problems: products degrade and break down into smaller pieces. Existing policy in both advanced and less advanced economies has left the problem of microplastics largely unaddressed.

IPAC supports country progress towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and a more resilient economy by 2050.

Young people are our leaders of tomorrow, but they have been among the hardest hit. How can they become the driving force for change post-COVID-19?

Sep 2021: Global GDP is now above its pre-pandemic level, with vaccination drives and government and central bank support helping – but risks remain.

Investing in education is vital not only to reduce inequality, but also for long-term resilience and prosperity. Here are our key takeaways.

USD 125 billion: this is the estimated sum of corporate profits expected to be reallocated to governments as a result of the recent landmark international tax deal led by the OECD.

Agreed to by 136 countries and jurisdictions representing 90% of global GDP, the deal establishes the principle that companies pay tax where they generate profits – which has become more challenging as the global economy has become more digitalised. An agreed minimum global corporate tax rate of 15% means governments will have a greater capacity to fund essential public services.

In the G20, the range of corporate income tax revenue as a share of total tax revenue is currently between 7% (US) and 58% (India); in the OECD it is between 1% (Latvia) and 45% (Chile).

How corporate taxes will evolve over time remains to be seen.

Venture capital investment in artificial intelligence technology increased 20-fold between 2012 and 2020. This scaling up of AI cuts through all sectors of the economy, including transport, healthcare, business, digital security and others.

The transport sector alone saw USD 18 billion of VC funding in 2020 with mobility and autonomous vehicles taking centre stage in global efforts to scale up broader sustainable mobility drives.

However, governments and other actors must think hard about how best to harness the power of technology with people in mind. The OECD AI Principles focuses on human-centred values and nurturing trust – and can therefore support inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-being.

Inflationary pressure in the global economy is stemming from a surge in demand accompanying the reopening of economies, which is pushing up the prices of key commodities, including fuel, metals and food.

Cost pressures are being amplified by supply chain tensions. Shipping costs, in particular, have risen sharply, reflecting strains in vessel and container capacity.

G20 consumer price inflation is expected to peak in late 2021 – but the long-term inflation outlook will depend on inflation expectations and wage inflation.