Corona: Cash to Save the Economy Could Also Help Fight Climate Change

With countries locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic, analysts and environmental groups highlight that stimulus packages can significantly help tackle two threats at once: the economy, as intended, and the climate.

A stimulus package is an economic plan that aims to prevent recessions, but also using it for green infrastructure could provide provide “a huge opportunity” for the country, says Lucy Vinis, mayor of Eugene, Oregon in the U.S. and member of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network.

“This is a moment where we could not just rebuild the society we have today but build a better one going forward,” she highlights, as her city works on green aims for a lower-carbon future.

According to David Miller, director of international diplomacy for the C40 network of cities, countries’ coronavirus stimulus plans will initially aim to give people a financial safety net as lockdowns progress, but will evolve to be about infrastructure and durable economic recovery. He adds, “There’s a massive opportunity that we must take to rebuild the economy in a way that’s truly sustainable.”