During the 18th Century, the Scottish Enlightenment put the Glasgow at the heart of world thinking. Today, as the world comes to Glasgow for the COP26, we ask what we can learn from one of the great pioneers of the Scottish Enlightenment: the renowned economist and former lecturer at the University of Glasgow, Adam Smith.
As part of the Adam Smith at the COP workstream of our Path to COP26 campaign, we have prepared this unique essay series entitled The Wealth of Nations in the 21st Century, looking at the climate crisis through the eyes of Smith.
This work updates Smith’s Wealth of Nations for the climate era. Expert authors from the fields of finance, economics, politics, development and central banking have taken the 5 ‘books’ of the original and written 5 essays drawing on Smith’s themes and reflecting on the climate crisis. They consider both how Smith’s thinking can guide our approach to climate action, and what he himself might have thought about the climate crisis.
We are extremely grateful to Lord Meghnad Desai, David Pitt-Watson, Usha Rao-Monari, Prof. Sir Anton Muscatelli, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Aziz, George Gray Molina, Dr Michele Battisti & Dr Craig Smith for sharing their fascinating insights. They have provided a truly remarkably review of the on-going relevance of Smith’s work, applying the Wealth of Nations, as well as drawing on the Theory of Moral Sentiments, to contemporary climate issues.
The essay series, supported by Royal London, will be launched at the University of Glasgow, where Smith once taught, during our Adam Smith at the COP evening lecture series on the 8th, 9th & 10th of December. Sign up now to join us in person or online. Our wish is that the essay series encourages and inspires creative thinking and practical action to leave a small and enduring legacy after this crucial summit.