Towards a green and sustainable recovery from COVID-19

Abstract

Whilst COVID-19 has left a devastating trail of economic and social losses, it has spurred incidental transitory positive externalities for the environment and climate. Key among these include; improved air and water quality, clearer skies and a projected 8% global blip in carbon emissions by the end of 2020. The global wave of restrictive lock downs implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the short term account for these gains. The lockdowns were defined by limited public and private travel, closure of airports and borders, and a decline in industrial activity. However, most of these climate and environmental gains were secondary effects of the COVID-19 induced lockdowns and not based on decisive deliberate policy action, which casts doubts on their sustainability and ability to contribute to a green economy transition. Sustaining accrued environmental and climate benefits will depend on the direction of the COVID-19 stimuli and recovery packages – whether they are designed to work for the planet or against it. This article therefore elaborates on how state and non-state actors across the globe ought to be agile in building back sustainably to upend the ongoing collision course between the planet and economic development. It emphasizes the use of Sustainable Development Goals and Nationally Determined Contributions on climate change (NDCs) as a compass to shape the direction of COVID-19 recovery packages. It further enumerates six strategies that must underpin recovery packages to ensure win-win for the economy, society, and the planet.