Ms. Lia Nicholson tells us how Wealth creation is a top priority in the world’s poorest continent. Development creates wealth, but has historically been the result of carbon-intensive industrialization. Today there is unprecedented climate action, with many countries, cities and companies setting targets for net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Three scenarios are outlined for Sub-Saharan Africa’s development in a low-carbon world: jobs-for-emissions, clean industrialization, and leapfrogging to a services economy.

Lia Nicholson is optimistic that 8 billion people can comfortably live on this planet while keeping the Earth’s temperature stable and biological diversity intact. She advises and consults on environmental policy, project design, and implementation for Governments and companies to meet the sustainable development agenda. Currently based in Lagos with the non-profit group C40, Lia is supporting four West African cities to develop ambitious climate action plans that map out their pathway for climate resilience and net-zero emissions. Originally from Antigua and Barbuda, Lia graduated from Yale University with a Master’s in Environmental Management and earned a B.A. in International
Environmental Policy from Scripps College in California. Lia was a 2017 Commonwealth Queen's Young Leader and received a 2014 Gruber Fellowship in Global Justice. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx