What if wealth was measured by the damage you don't do? | Sandeep Ahuja | TEDxAtlanta

Environmental Crisis & Economic Model - The current economic model is based on accumulation and consumption, which is unsustainable [3] - The speaker proposes a radical reimagining of the economic model centered around "carbon wealth," where individuals are born with a base amount of carbon dollars and make choices that either deposit or withdraw from a global survival account [5] - In this model, products are priced in carbon, incentivizing low-carbon choices [5][6] Buildings & Carbon Emissions - Buildings contribute to 39% of total global carbon emissions, making them a key area for climate action [8] - Developers are focusing on resilience and utilizing local materials to convert buildings from carbon liabilities to carbon assets [9] - Examples like the Candida building at Georgia Tech demonstrate how buildings can produce more energy than they consume, feeding excess back into the grid [10] Extreme Weather & Resilience - Extreme weather events have increased in frequency by 50% in the last two decades [13] - Buildings need to be more than just shelters; they need to be active defenders against climate change through smart design [11][12] - Despite the challenges, humanity has shown resilience and the ability to innovate and survive [13][14]