Green Economic Recovery from Coronavirus

Over the last few weeks there have been numerous articles that have pointed towards the need to couple coronavirus recovery plans with climate action, in order to address climate change. Many of these articles have outlined the dangers of ‘forgetting’ the deep emergency of climate change during a period of economic recovery and the financial, environmental and social benefits of tackling both together.  

Research has shown a clear drop in air pollution and carbon emissions during the period of lockdown, however this will have little to no impact towards addressing the climate emergency without sustained reductions brought about by effective carbon reduction policies. As those of us who are involved in this agenda realise, it is important to learn from the coronavirus crisis and look to a ‘new normal’ which considers the environmental implications of economic recovery from coronavirus, by ensuring that economic and climate change priorities are aligned. 

Local authorities should evaluate how the pandemic will impact current/emerging climate emergency plans and actions, as well as other corporate strategies. It is also a window of opportunity to couple coronavirus recovery and address the climate emergency, in order to take effective and lasting climate action which will build sustainable and resilient communities.  

There is a clear argument to be made for a green recovery from coronavirus that local authorities can utilise to enhance the case for climate action. Coronavirus has shown the need for resilient and healthy communities, both of which are at further risk with increasing impacts of climate change and both of which can be enhanced with effective climate action. There are a variety of health, economic, resilience, equity and social co-benefits to climate action, which can be felt at the local level and are key to recovering from coronavirus and protecting and developing our communities and economies.

Look out for an APSE Energy members’ briefing, which will be sent out next week, that pulls together key themes that have emerged across the green recovery research and highlights what they mean for local authorities. It concludes with an APSE Energy comment, which provides some guidance for local authorities to take away from the briefing to make the most of the green recovery from coronavirus. 

If want to know more about APSE Energy membership and how we can help, please contact Phil Brennan, Head of APSE Energy on 0161 772 1810 or at [email protected] or Charlotte Banks, Energy Research and Project Officer on 0161 772 1810 or at [email protected].