Economic meltdown and the rise of nature - Investing in green
infrastructure by Tamas Marghescu, Regional Director for Pan-
Europe Our economies are tumbling and millions of people all
over the world are losing their jobs. Politicians in the North
are responding to the current global economic crisis in the same
manner as their forebears responded to the Great Depression,
around three quarters of a century ago. To stimulate an economic
resurgence and create new employment, governments are inter
alia, using public, financial resources to invest in the
construction of infrastructure (roads, airports, railways etc.).
Indeed, On 15 January 2009, President Obama announced that the
US will invest $825bn (about 2.8% of GDP) in a two-year stimulus
package. This package includes: - $6 billions in federal money
for improvements and expansions of mass transit systems; - $3
billions in construction grants for airports; - $300 millions in
grants for railroad improvements. Meanwhile, the German
Chancellor Angela Merkel and G