In 2008, eight of the world’s leading economists, including five Nobel Laureates, in the so-called Copenhagen Consensus, recommended priorities for confronting the top ten global challenges. They ranked providing young children with micronutrients the number one most cost-effective way to advance global welfare.

The list of top ideas is accurate in terms of depicting the most important development priorities. The fact that the topics do not include too many governance interventions, given its broad scope and nature, is a good thing.

I've served on four 'experts committees', beginning in 2004. All involved hard choices among attractive alternatives to meet crucial objectives for development and health. And the reason I keep serving? I learn so much.

Clean energy is essential to our addressing the carbon climate problem. This research shows clearly that we must prime the pump on innovation now with increased funding for research and development, while putting incentives in place that allow the resulting new technologies to compete successfully in the marketplace.

The cost-benefit approach of the research, using evidence for prioritizing different policies, is unprecedented in the Bangladesh landscape, in spite of hundreds of think-tanks.

Setting priorities for how money could be spent most effectively to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa is a key priority. This pioneering work shows how economic analysis can contribute to a prioritisation for spending in this vital area. It will be invaluable to those funding both research activities and healthcare programmes in Africa.

When trying to help families in base of the pyramid communities, it is crucial to know where we can have the biggest impact for our efforts. Copenhagen Consensus research showed we could positively impact more lives with malaria interventions than interventions for many other diseases. That knowledge has been integral to guide our efforts in the fight against malaria.

As a development economist I love the idea of the Copenhagen Consensus.

Without the benefit of the Copenhagen Consensus, Teck would not be involved with UNICEF and Micronutrient Initiative on initiatives to deliver zinc treatment to children who would otherwise be at risk of dying. Over time, the work of Teck and its partners will help saves the lives of the 400,000 who die today from complications arising from Diarrhea. The work of the Copenhagen Consensus was instrumental in sparking this effort.

Political rhetoric helps to add momentum to various agendas of reforms but such research can inject impetus to specific areas which can snowball into a big, positive effect.