Grand Challenges

The Grand Challenges

Economic Development is responsible for delivering the ambitions outlined in the Glasgow Economic Strategy 2022-2030. The aim of this strategy is to address the three Grand Challenges facing the economy:

Enhancing Productivity
Climate Emergency
Inclusive Growth

Enhancing Productivity

The Climate Emergency

Inclusive Growth

Productivity measures the efficiency of turning production inputs, commonly labour and capital, into a given level of output. In the long-term higher productivity translates into higher wages, stronger demand and stronger economic growth. That’s why productivity is central to any economic strategy.

Glasgow City Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in May 2019 and set a target to be net zero carbon by 2030. Global emissions must halve by 2030 to have any real chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. At the same time, we must adapt to the climate change already locked in.

The benefits of developing our economy must be shared with all our citizens, across all our communities. Inequality in the city was highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with disparities in jobs, housing and health, as well as financial and social wellbeing, starkly exposed.