The world economy has been expanding steadily since 2003, recording a growth rate of around 5 percent in 2005, and is projected to maintain high growth into the future.
Also, both theory and applied tools of environmental economics have been directing policies and informing decision-makers in addressing environmental challenges, such as the creation of markets for pollutants or the instruments for the conservation of ecosystem services. Yet, there is still a lot to be done and the work of environmental economists will provide valuable guidance along the way.