Growing support for a green economic recovery after coronavirus pandemic


Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

Governments worldwide are preparing their stimulus plans to counterbalance the economic “tsunami” caused by coronavirus pandemic. These economic incentives offer an excellent opportunity to build a just and sustainable economic system. Last weeks, many voices from different sectors and tiers are calling for a green recovery. The BioRefineries Blog joins this flow echoing two high-profile examples.

Figure 1. Voices call for a green recovery after coronavirus pandemic (extracted from the document “Green Recovery Call to Action and Signatories”)

Europe – Green recovery alliance
One week ago, the “green recovery alliance” was launched at the initiative of Pascal Canfin, a French MEP who chairs the European Parliament’s committee on environment and public health. In addition to 79 MEPs, the alliance also brings together civil society groups, including 37 CEOs (Acciona, Danone, Ikea, H&M, Neste, Unilever…), 28 business associations, the European trade union confederation, 7 NGOs and 6 think tanks. Signatories are calling for a worldwide alliance of politicians, decision-makers, business leaders, trade unions, and civil society groups to support a green transition after the pandemic. I quote: “The transition to a climate-neutral economy, the protection of biodiversity and the transformation of agri-food systems have the potential to rapidly deliver jobs, growth and improve the way of life of all citizens worldwide, and to contribute to building more resilient societies.”.

Canada – Open letter of Canadian clean energy leaders
In early April, a broad group of Canadian clean energy and cleantech industries and non-profit leaders in climate and energy policy called on the federal government to support secure jobs in a cleaner, innovative and diverse economy. They delivered a letter to Prime Minister outlining three recommendations that would help Canada emerge from the COVID crisis with a stronger, more resilient economy: (1) signalling climate policy continuity and enhancement; (2) sufficient, sustained and sustainable stimulus; (3) moving quickly to support clean energy solutions through existing initiatives and programs.
Open letter and its signatories”, 3/4/2020.

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