German sociologist Jens Beckert expresses a pessimistic view of "green growth" in his book How We Sold the Future: The Failed Enterprise to Combat Climate Change. In an interview with the British Financial Times, he stated, "Unless this business model is profitable." Because the motivation of businesses is profit-seeking, executives tend to overlook future climate damages, and governments rely on taxes generated from corporate profits to support their finances—which is precisely the core of how modern societies operate.
德国社会学家延斯•贝克特(Jens Beckert)在《我们如何出卖了未来：抗击气候变化的失败事业》中对“绿色增长”表达了一种悲观的论调。“除非这种商业模式有利可图”，他在受英国《金融时报》采访时曾如是说道。因为企业的动机是追求利润，所以高管会忽视对未来的气候损害，而政府也需要企业盈利带来的税金来支撑财政——而这恰恰是现代社会运行的核心。
Perhaps the recent release of two reports by the World Economic Forum (WEF) can slightly bolster his expectations. The reports found that investments in adaptation, resilience, and decarbonization can deliver tangible returns for businesses and benefit from the growing green market. The size of the green market is expected to increase from $5 trillion in 2024 to $14 trillion by 2030. Among these, sub-sectors such as alternative energy (49%), sustainable transportation (16%), and sustainable consumer goods (13%) hold significant potential, with growth rates far exceeding GDP.
或许近日世界经济论坛（World Economic Forum）发布的两份报告能略微提振他的期待。报告发现在适应、恢复和脱碳方面的投资能给企业带来切实回报，并从增长中的绿色市场获益。绿色市场的规模预计将从2024年的5万亿美元增长到2030年的14万亿美元。其中，替代能源（49%）、可持续交通（16%）和可持续消费品（13%）等细分市场极具潜力，增长率均远高于GDP。
Additionally, potential economic losses will compel businesses to address climate risks immediately. Over the past two decades, climate-related economic costs have quietly doubled. The ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, which erupted on January 7, 2025, serve as a recent warning. According to a January 15 report by the British Financial Times, analysts at Wells Fargo estimate that insurance claims triggered by the fires could exceed $30 billion, with economic losses reaching up to $40 billion, making it one of the most severe loss events in U.S. history. Data from the Swiss Re Institute also indicate that over the past five years, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, and floods have resulted in insurance losses exceeding $100 billion.
另外，潜在的经济损失将倒逼企业立即应对气候风险。过去二十年间，与气候相关的经济成本已经悄然翻倍。从2025年1月7日开始暴发且持续至今的洛杉矶山火无疑是一项最新的警示——据1月15日英国《金融时报》报道，富国银行(Wells Fargo)的分析师预计由火灾引发的保险赔付或高达300亿美元以上，经济损失或达到400亿美元，堪称美国历史上损失最严重的事件之一。瑞士再保险研究所的数据也表明，过去五年中，飓风、强雷暴和洪水导致的保险损失超过1000亿美元。