Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

COVID-19 has shown that existing planning and programmes are much more accustomed to respond to immediate, tangible local risks, and consistently struggle to anticipate and respond to global risks such as climate risks. A recent report examines how financial tools, namely insurance, could make vulnerable communities more resilient in the face of escalating climate impacts. Consider that climate insurance could:

When planning the design and pricing of climate insurance, consider:

• • • Conducting a risk assessment to develop a robust and evidence-based understanding of risk and the strategies that are required to mitigate and prepare for risk
    • If evolving hazards have been taken into account – e.g. risk assessments should look forward and assess how risks are evolving in light of climate change
    • If risk communications are effective e.g. are individuals fully informed so they can make informed decisions about insurance?

COVID-19 has exacerbated what has already been described as a “triple emergency: climate change; nature loss; rising poverty and inequality”, while also presenting a rare opportunity to improve preparedness and mitigation through recovery and renewal. Effective NbS involve working closely with nature, people and the climate, realising the interdependent nature of these elements. NbS are a cost effective approach and have the potential to deliver multiple benefits simultaneously when implemented effectively. A recent report brings together examples of NbS for climate, nature and people from 13 local community case studies. Consider the following examples of holistic approaches that address the these interdependent threats:

• The Medmerry project, UK, embarked on a coastal managed realignment to build new sea defences inland from the coast allowing a new ‘intertidal’ area to develop. Cross benefits of this initiative include:
  • Climate change: The intertidal habitat serves as a blue carbon store, meaning the area can itself adapt to the effect of climate change and mitigate future climate change impacts, making the area more resilient to sea level rise and storms
  • Nature: Bird populations have thrived as a result of the site creation
  • People: The project has developed flood protection to homes, critical infrastructure and local services. The work of this project has increased the economic value of production in the area, boosted tourism and reduced the emotional stress faced by vulnerable communities
• Talensi, Ghana, implemented a farmer-led and community-based dryland restoration initiative to tackle the deteriorating soil fertility and local natural resources. The communities used ‘Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration’ to restore multipurpose trees to rural areas. Cross benefits of this initiative include:
  • Climate change: Increase in water retention and soil erosion reduction as a result of soil and tree restoration on farms
  • Nature: 718 hectares of degraded land was restored and the project resulted in the planning of 23,000 additional fruit trees in the area
  • People: A reduction in annual household hunger and an increase in diverse household income sources (e.g. greater range of food crops) leading to increased levels of household resilience

Previous TMBs discuss additional NbS strategies: Issue 20, Issue 30 and Issue 33

Latin America benefits from vast access to natural resources, however many people living in rural areas have limited access to locally produced food and rely heavily on imported goods. The fragilities in food supply chains were exacerbated by COVID-19, which left people at risk of not being able to meet their immediate food needs. Recovery and renewal provides an opportunity to support Latin Americas rural agricultural sector to renew its practices, promote community health and resilience, and contribute to achieving environmental sustainability. Consider the actions proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for COVID-19 recovery and renewal:

Transform food production

• Finance and support the production of a diverse range of agricultural products. Invest in multi-crop programs together with small and medium producers
• Reduce food waste by providing access to locally produced food and resources
• Prioritise local consumption and distribution of agricultural products over exports
• Promote the adoption of healthy diets with local produce through voluntary information groups, labelling policies, eating healthy campaigns, and fiscal incentives to schools that purchase local produce

Rural development

• Provide quality education and skills-training to the rural agricultural sector
• Establish sustainable practices in the agricultural sector, that recognize the diversity of the ecosystem and the cultural and traditional practices or its habitants
• Increase the infrastructure for public services and connect with urban areas. This can help to reduce rural vulnerability and enables producers to access urban markets for their products

Sustainable agriculture

• Promote water conservation and soil maintenance practices
• Protect the ecosystem by delimiting conservation areas outside of agricultural practices
• Implement early warning systems and risk reduction programmes focused on local hazards

TMB Issue 37 detailed some investment initiatives adopted in France, Sweden, Finland and Chile to stimulate a green recovery. This lesson brings together further examples of how countries are implementing green recovery and renewal plans which aim to cut emissions in the aftermath of COVID-19. Consider:

• Italy has deployed a stimulus support package targeting the agricultural sector, designing “integrated projects” which include green community initiatives and awareness campaigns around environmental challenges
• Ireland committed to “raising the energy rating of 500,000 homes by 2030” in 2020. A new green recovery stimulus package includes a “retrofit skills training initiative” and additional funding targeted at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to expand the initiative. This is expected to create an additional 3,200 “quality, sustainable jobs”
• Spain has included funding for “housing renovation and urban regeneration” which aims to improve the “energy performance of buildings”, as part of their Recovery and Resilience plan, which has been submitted to the EU Commission
• South Korea has designed an initiative “green transformation of living infrastructure” which aims to stimulate employment growth and transform “state-run facilities (e.g. community health clinics, public housing, childcare facilities) to zero-emissions”. The plan is to replace “fossil-fuel based utility systems with efficient, green systems, and implement 100 new IT-based systems to help resolve environmental issues, including low-carbon vehicle manufacturing and air quality improvement”

COVID-19 has seen cities and local areas rapidly change how public spaces are used. In an effort to improve the daily lives and wellbeing of communities during the pandemic cities have implemented changes that were previously thought to be “radical”. How these temporary measures can transition to permanent design is a key renewal strategy in Sydney which is focusing on the vision of a people-centred city that aims to tackle the various social, health and equity challenges that recovery will bring. Their recent study, based on international best practice and data tracking, explains how to look beyond “basic infrastructure and traffic to create a city that people want to live in, visit, work and spend time in”. Consider the renewal recommendations set out in ‘Sustainable Sydney 2050, towards a more attractive and liveable city’:

Create ‘a city for all’

• Co-produce the planning and design of public spaces with the community and stakeholder groups
• Collect “public life data” and evaluate this data to inform decision-making
• Provide welcome spaces, increase facilities for children, close streets off to traffic at lunch time, expand the use of community buildings and ensure free Wi-Fi across the city – to make public spaces “more attractive for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds”
• Support “public art and creative expression” to engage communities in the design of the city

Build a ‘green and cool city’

• Reinforce and drive action in “emissions control, waste, water and greening”
• Expand “tree canopies, biodiversity and the use of shade structures and awnings in public spaces”
• Upgrade transport links between the “city, parklands and the harbour” to improve mobility in and around public spaces

Protect the ‘heart’ of the city

• Transform the currently “traffic-dominated streets to people friendly streets”
• Capitalise on the “Metro, train and light rail infrastructure as the most efficient modes of transport for people”
• Increase walking space and pathways across the city
• Improve the connection of cycle networks to other transport networks (Metro/train) to promote cycling

The strategy also includes long-terms plans for four new “green avenues” which are “arterial roadways identified for transformation with reduced traffic, increased tree plantings and space for people”. A key message in the strategy is that partnerships between “all levels of governments, businesses and the community” is key to transforming cities.

The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitment (VC) initiative calls for enhancing governance, including local governance, for disaster response, rehabilitation and reconstruction. A recent commitment on the Sendai VC ‘Strengthening inclusive Resilience to Disasters, boosting sustainable Development’, by the Province of Potenza (PPZ), Italy, is focused on re-assessing, monitoring and reviewing the level of resilience of its 100 Municipalities Network. Consider the following objectives and actions in the PPZ commitment:

• Encourage communication between local governments by maximizing on the ‘Making Cities Resilient (MCR) Campaign’
• “Share on the development and implementation of comprehensive urban disaster risk reduction plans”
• Showcase the value that the Human Security approach adds when implementing the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction at local levels
• Highlight local activities that are working to identify and implement innovative measures for disaster risk reduction and are striving to achieve SDGs
• Identify and introduce creative approaches to cooperation on different topics at local levels
• Implement the project using the new Resilience Scorecard through a “city-to-city peer review, based on a multi-stakeholder and holistic approach to disaster risk reduction”
• Collect data for a review and evaluation process of the Sendai Framework at the local level through strategic alignment to local indicators
• Share learning based on cities’ disaster risk assessments, and design a Resilience strategy
• This project is said to have achieved an “inclusive approach to strong community involvement” and developed “a governance-accountability system as a powerful mean for creating the conditions that contribute to change towards resilience”.

You can contact the team working on this project to find out more here

CarbonBrief have developed an interactive grid where you can explore and track the progress of how different countries across the world are implementing green recovery and renewal plans which aim to cut emissions in the aftermath of COVID-19. Below, we offer some examples of diverse initiatives from across the world:

• France allocated funding to “promote and support environmental performance” in their food and agricultural sector, e.g. funding to support farmers to adapt their farming systems to lower their impact on the environment. France have also allocated funding to create over 1,000 “eco-responsible restaurants in rural communities”, along with investment in “energy efficiency of public and private buildings, social housing, insulation and low-carbon heating”
• Sweden allocated investment to raise the “energy performance of Sweden’s housing stock and to support improvements in rental properties”
• Finland plan to “phase out oil heating in both households and public buildings” and allocated funding to the “wood constriction programme which promotes the use of timber by enhancing industry expertise, developing legislation and building regulations, and providing factual information”
• Chile have committed to plant trees on 24,000 hectares of land and invest in better fire management as part of its “mitigation and adaptation commitments related to forests and biodiversity”. Chile will also have invested in modernisation and irrigation projects for farmers, as part of the COVID-19 budget response

The ‘Going for Growth 2021: Shaping a Vibrant Recovery’ (OECD) report argues that structural policies can deliver a “stronger, more resilient, equitable and sustainable COVID-19 recovery”. Key to building resilience will be policies that transform environmental policies to drive the ‘Green Transition’. A challenge which lies ahead will be public perception and acceptability of environmental policies, specifically those which are market-focused (e.g. carbon tax). These have the potential to raise public concerns on the implications of such policies for employment security and cost of living - due to their impact on certain sectors (e.g. mining). The report offers strategies that can build public support of environmental policies. To illustrate the report uses the change to carbon pricing as an example:

• A phased-in and transparent approach (e.g. gradual raising prices) to give households sufficient time to adapt to the change as necessary
• “Revenue recycling”, which can fund universal transfer payments, reduce taxes, and provide targeted support for communities and households impacted by the change
• Communication with the public and education campaigns on the change, which promote the benefits of carbon pricing and counter misinformation
• Policy naming and branding which does not imply taxation (e.g. “Levy”), to mitigate the development of mistrust of the change amongst the public

Cities are central to addressing climate change and promoting environmental sustainability. Floods, droughts, storms and rising sea levels are impacting infrastructure, livelihoods and human health across the world. In particular, urban activities contribute significantly to "climate change and environmental degradation". The UNOSSC, in partnership with UN Habitat, have launched a call for submissions on cities' innovative experiences on environmental sustainability and climate action through South-South and triangular cooperation. They call for examples of innovative environmental sustainability and climate solutions in cities that fulfil the following criteria:

• Include South-south or triangular cooperation approaches
• Are scalable and replicable
• Involve a local government or municipal authority

This call for submissions offers an opportunity to:

• Feature as a case study in the upcoming joint publication by UNOSSC and UN-Habitat
• Join UNOSSC's cities thematic clusters network which offers an opportunity to share experiences and learn about knowledge-sharing and pilot project opportunities

Submit initiatives/projects by June 5th 2021 (please note that this submission date has now expired).

United Nations Office for South-south Cooperation (UNOSSC)

United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)

COVID-19 presents an opportunity to address climate change impacts and improve disaster risk management. Tonga is highly exposed to natural hazards and the effects of climate change. In an effort to develop a ‘resilient Tonga’, an inclusive participatory approach has been employed that is based on strong governance and the development of knowledgeable and proactive communities. A broad range of goals, strategies and projects have been identified within Tonga’s ‘Joint National Action Plan 2 on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management’ (CCADRM), including:

• The introduction of new policies and projects (e.g. National Forest Policy, Land Use Policy, Tonga Ridge to Reef Project) to improve governance for CCADRM
• Increase information, education and understanding of CCADRM by initiating awareness programmes and the establishment of a climate change data management system
• Improvement of analysis and assessments of vulnerability to climate change impacts and disaster risks through coastal assessment and protection projects (E.g. Lifuka Island vulnerability assessment and adaptation to sea-level rise community project (p69))
• Investment in public infrastructure (e.g. schools and community halls) to increase their ‘structural resilience to climate impacts and the construction of evacuation roads to increase community preparedness and resilience to the risks and impacts of disasters’
• Design and delivery of renewable and energy efficiency projects to increase the technical reliability, economic affordability and environmental reliability of energy. E.g. Outer Island Renewable Energy Project which aims to provide a ‘secure, sustainable and environmentally-sound source of electricity’ to Tonga’s outer islands
• The establishment of collaborative forums to include non-governmental organisations, charities and community committees to enhance partnerships, cooperation and collaboration between national and local government agencies, civil society, NGOs, the private sector and the public

The pandemic has demonstrated how human health and environmental health are intertwined. Eco-system based strategies combine ‘natural resource management approaches and disaster risk reduction methods (e.g. early warning systems)’ to improve prevention and preparedness, reduce disaster impacts on communities and support recovery from disasters. Local governments can identify ecosystems and increase understanding of their potential role in reducing disaster impacts (e.g. coastal wetlands/floodplains) and their ‘contribution to climate change mitigation and adaption’. In India, ‘Wetlands International’ works with civil society partners and communities on strategies to reduce disaster risk, e.g. restoring wetlands so that they can act as a natural buffer to floods. Consider:

• Update and collate information on local natural areas (e.g. peatlands/wet grasslands) and their current and potential uses for climate change mitigation
• Assess the condition of local eco-systems to determine if actions are required to restore them as degraded environments can drive disaster risk and negatively impact recovery efforts
• When designing community development plans, ensure they consider the potential negative effects on local natural resources
• In Myanmar, a local-level disaster risk reduction policy and planning framework sets out how communities follow ‘structural (resilient infrastructure/homes), non-structural (land use planning that integrates ecosystem protection measures) and ecosystem-based (natural resource management) measures, at the household and community level’, to reduce disaster risk
• Develop solutions to address current and future environmental risks, such as maintenance of green and blue infrastructure through nature-based solutions or protection of the ecosystems (e.g. forest conservation)
• Protect and restore ecosystems to the extent that they offer sufficient adaption and mitigation benefits to current and future risks

Although measures to control the spread of the virus have had some positive environmental effects, such as decreases in global emissions of carbon dioxide, the use of single-use plastics has accelerated. For example, some schools have changed to using disposable cutlery during lunches due to COVID-19 restrictions; and bag use has increased to curb virus transmission. Furthermore, PPE waste has strained the capacity of waste management systems due to the complex composition of some PPE materials, making waste recycling a challenge. Consider:

• Address the challenges faced by waste management systems by including surge capacity and the environmental impact of waste in disaster management plans
• Prioritise reusable personal protective equipment
• Move from a linear to a circular economy to prevent products (including plastic) from becoming waste:
  • Introduce a phased ban on the use of all types of single-use plastic, e.g. via a tax on plastic packaging
  • Partner with organisations such as 'Recircle', to develop strategies to recycle rubber, a product that accounts for almost 10% of micro plastic waste found in the sea
• Commit to action at local levels, e.g. introduce a community single-use plastics policy and action plan:
  • Partner with local waste authorities, charities, community groups, schools, businesses and residents to create action plans and campaigns to reduce the use of single use plastic in the community, e.g. 'Good to know' posters in schools that provide fun facts on the benefits of re-cycling to increase awareness in young people
  • Collaborate with local water management authorities to install COVID-safe water fountains across the community, enabling free refills of water

Concurrent incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as locus swarms destroying farms in Africa, forest fires devastating the US, flooding in the UK, show us that climate change actions are crucial when considering renewal strategies. Communities that are more vulnerable to natural disasters are disproportionately challenged during a pandemic. Natural climate solutions protect and restore nature, which can help mitigation of (and adaption to) the impacts of climate change, e.g. coastal wetland can defend communities from storm surge and sea level rise, well-managed forests can protect water supplies, reduce wildfire risk and prevent landslides. Consider:

• Raise awareness locally of the value and potential benefits of nature-based solutions for communities in mitigating risks of future natural disasters
• Engage with local businesses as potential sponsors of nature-based solutions
• Establish a volunteering scheme with employees of local businesses to support nature-based initiatives
  • Partner with local voluntary groups and community based organisations to establish community-led conservation efforts
  • Establish a 'plant a tree initiative', to build and enhance local forestry
  • Encourage roof top gardens and balcony gardens - create online gardening tutorials for creating mini urban gardens
• Work with local land owners to identify appropriate actions that support nature-based approaches, e.g. planting marram grass to stabilise sand dunes or peatland restoration

COVID-19 has strained food producers and distributors (e.g. disrupted food supply chains, problematized crop harvesting, impacted logistics and distribution), and this has impacted the amount of food waste created in the supply chain. COVID-19 has also changed household food waste creation by affecting household income, shopping habits and consumption patterns. The implications are broad. For example, the real cost of food has increased for some vulnerable households, who must purchase from supermarkets that will deliver rather than shop at their usual 'cheaper' shops. Food waste has become an important concern for organisations and households, and some countries are taking strong action. Consider:

• Charge businesses and families that waste food (such as in South Korea, where the proportion of recycling food increased from 2% to 95% in 2009)
• Strengthen partnerships between food producers and distributors and local food initiatives
• Develop local agriculture and growing food in and around cities, e.g. Singapore identified unused spaces in its cities to create urban farms to address supply chain issues cause by COVID-19
• Partner with local volunteer initiatives that tackle food poverty and food waste:
  • Ensure voluntary food distribution groups have the necessary equipment to store nutritious food and distribute that to the community
  • Set up community fridges, e.g. local parishes or town halls to support local groups
  • To ensure food that is not fit for consumption is recycled appropriately
  • Support groups in the collection, transportation and redistribution of food
• Educate households on:
  • How to store food safely after purchasing
  • Safe ways to store and re-use leftovers
  • How to correctly recycle food waste
  • Recipes on for using leftover ingredients
  • How to safely donate excess food
  • How to interpret food labels correctly

During national lockdowns and tiered restrictions, visitation to public spaces such as parks has increased dramatically. This increased concentration of people in particular areas poses risk of virus transmission from those who are not abiding by COVID rules. Despite their best efforts, Police have limited capacity to respond to breaches of COVID-19 regulations. As a result there are many breaches going unchallenged and reports of a culture of breaches taking hold. Volunteers, namely COVID Marshals or Ambassadors, can create more capacity to engage, explain and encourage compliance and, when combined with a public app to report breaches, can target deployment to breach hot spots. Consider:

• Identify the types of breaches it may be appropriate to deploy COVID Marshals to so they can engage, explain and encourage compliance
• Identify, select, and train people who may be suitable as COVID Marshals (follow ISO22319)
• Identify safe working practices for the COVID Marshals e.g. deployment in pairs
• Using reports from the public to identify public spaces where breaches are likely to occur
• Develop a system to deploy, monitor, support, and debrief COVID Marshals

In recent years urban planning has revolved around principles of shared spaces e.g. shared offices, vehicles, city squares and parks, and available transport to help people travel to urban centres so that they can access goods and services. COVID-19 has required cities to revaluate these in light of radically changed human behaviour that relies on distancing from one another. Spaces therefore need to be thought about differently, not just as the physical spaces we inhabit, but as complex realities that can meet a variety of functions. Consider how social planning can:

• Relieve loneliness and allow for spending time with friends and family in the open air
• Facilitate alternative safe work environments e.g. moving meetings from offices to outdoor spaces
• Renovating urban spaces to meet new multi-functional requirements while considering the need for green space

Consider also, that social planning may require increased investment in infrastructure and services such as:

• Free and reliable WiFi in outdoor spaces to help meet the requirements of spaces as places that can accommodate work
• Localising 'downtown' areas e.g. ensuring every neighbourhood is serviced with essential shops and services to avoid unnecessary travel

Recent research in the UK suggests that people are planning to drive more in future than they did before the coronavirus pandemic, despite the fact many people accept human responsibility for the climate crisis. The preference to travel by car is likely the result of people feeling unsafe on public transport as a result of COVID, reduced public transport services, and a lack of trust in services. To encourage tangible action on climate change for recovery and renewal from COVID-19, localised climate policies for transport can consider:

• Limit and reduce measures to increase road capacity as research suggests new road capacity encourages more traffic and increased emissions
• Introducing low emission zones and/or congestion charging areas - the funds from these can be used to subsidise public transport
• Invest in rapid transition to electric vehicles for public services e.g. public transport, waste removal, and for vehicles that are required to be used by council staff (a 'grey fleet' of vehicles used by staff but not owned by the council)
• Build reduce car use into local plans to consider quality walking and cycling routes, and the provision of transport and delivery hubs to enable the use of cargo bikes and similar for deliveries
• Require that all taxis are electric vehicles through licensing regulations

Green spaces have become fundamental to people's physical and mental wellbeing through COVID-19, especially during periods of lockdown. Increased use of these spaces requires some adaptations to green space management to ensure the recovery of both people and the environment. Consider:

• Campaigns to make the public aware that many green spaces and parks in the UK are run by local volunteers - and that the limited funding and capacity means that essential services such as waste collection are limited and the public can help by taking their litter home with them to not cause litter issues
• Campaigns to boost volunteer numbers to help the maintenance of green spaces
• Increased signage in local green spaces to remind people that they can help protect their local ecosystems in times where green spaces are seeing increased human traffic by:
  • Sticking to paths to avoid disturbing woods and meadows
  • Not disturbing deadwood as this is vital to local ecosystems
  • Not removing anything from the green space
  • Taking litter home

COVID-19 has resulted in food shortages in certain parts of the world due to disrupted supply chains. The compounding impacts of poor harvests as a result of climate change requires the adoption of new farming techniques to protect the environment and lives and livelihoods. Conservation agriculture promotes minimal soil disturbance, crop diversification and the use of organic fertilizer to conserve and improve the soil, and makes more efficient use of natural resources. It is therefore climate-smart from an adaptation as well as mitigation viewpoint. Consider:

• Introducing environmentally friendly legislation and incentives. In the UK, the Agriculture Bill is reforming farming to provide subsidies not simply for cultivating land (which is the current EU approach) but for delivering "public goods" e.g. sequestering carbon in trees or soil, enhancing habitat with pollinator-friendly flowers
• Moving beyond a model of short-term farming subsidies e.g. through stronger legislative commitments to long term funding, domestic environmental and animal welfare standards, and safeguards on import standards
• How to promote the benefits of conservation agriculture for farmers including financial savings that can be made due to less use of machinery, labour and pesticides
• Using digital technologies to disseminate important information on how to limit post-harvest losses, and improve better access markets and financial services
• Encouraging the public to continue to 'buy local' during the pandemic (e.g. through farms practicing conservation agriculture), as this supports local, sustainable food supply chains

The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of protecting biodiversity to prevent future zoonosis outbreaks. Communities, especially indigenous communities have been shown to consistently outperform governments as the most effective custodians of nature, and offer the knowledge and expertise to mitigate climate and biodiversity crises. However, research in 42 countries found that while many countries recognise the rights of indigenous and local peoples, they have not implemented laws to secure and protect those rights and ensure territory is not used in a dangerous way. Consider how to best work with local communities to support the protection of green spaces by:

• Committing to legal processes that secure the rights of indigenous people and the protection of green spaces
• Investing in the countries and communities that are ready to scale up land rights to affordably and effectively protect ecosystems and biodiversity e.g. mitigating deforestation and coastal erosion, and supporting sustainable fishing
• Reduce poverty and exclusion through improved land rights and access to green spaces, to help build resilient societies and secure livelihoods which can mitigate compounding inequities exacerbated by COVID-19
• Scaling up attempts to secure land rights in territories that have yet to be recognised by states

COVID-19 is reported to spread via airborne transmission. Engineering controls that can target airborne transmission may be a useful overall strategy to limit infection risk indoors. Air monitoring systems can detect conditions amenable to spreading diseases such as COVID-19. Consider installing air monitors to:

• Assess information on CO2, dust, volatile organic compounds, temperature, humidity, and other information on the environment to warn users when there is increased risk of spreading respiratory infections
• Use air quality information to make informed decisions about safe use of buildings and facilities, and to communicate the impacts of environmental factors on human health

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyday life which has emphasised concerns about environmental sustainability and resilience. Lessons to consider for dealing with climate change include capitalising on people's increasing interest/knowledge in climate risks, and associated opportunities. Consider how measures can help mitigate or adapt to climate change, or can exacerbate existing barriers:

• Environmental considerations:
  • Implement nature-based solutions that aim to increase the resilience of ecosystems e.g. considering water security and pollution
  • Be aware of potential for increased illegal deforestation and poaching (as a consequence of less governmental control during lockdown)
  • Mitigate the interruption of environmental monitoring projects that can cause data gaps in climate/environmental data
• Social considerations:
  • Assess changes in working conditions e.g. frequent, or sole use of virtual solutions, encouraging car-free days, reductions in energy consumption in businesses, and reductions in waste
  • Renovate and diversify the tourism sector towards sustainability so capitalise on environmental awareness since COVID-19
  • Develop policies that help reduce unemployment and mitigate potentially harmful domestic migration to rural areas that could cause environmental degradation

Research by the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests COVID-19 can spread from people to animals after close contact with a person sick with COVID-19, although the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. Consider how to work with vets, zoos, animal charities, animal shelter programmes and other stakeholders to disseminate information to pet owners, the public, and those who work with animals to understand how to protect themselves and others from transmitting the virus through and to animals. Consider how to:

• Protect those with pets at home by:
  • Informing the public about possible transmission to, and between their pets. The CDC states that common household pets such as cats and dogs can be infected with COVID-19, but caution is advised as there may be other types of animals that can get infected
  • Due to possible transmission, consider reiterating that if owners have symptoms they, and their animals should be isolated and practice social distancing to reduce risk of transmission
• For those who work with animals consider:
  • Paying attention to species suspected by CDC research to contract COVID-19 from humans e.g. in zoos (big cats), in breeding (cats, dogs, hamsters), or farms (mink or ferrets)
  • Make staff aware of possible transmission, provide appropriate PPE and ensure distancing/isolation guidelines
• The CDC suggests that more studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19

Many countries face multiple risks from COVID-19 and natural hazards. To combat these dual challenges consider how to:

• Integrate climate change into green recovery plans post COVID-19
• Use COVID-19 as an entry point to engage communities in preparing for other diseases that may be brought about by climate change
• Engage the local community in designing local preparedness and response plans e.g. to address COVID-related food insecurity, distribution of PPE, local finance solutions that meet the communities needs

Wildfire seasons are increasingly common in some countries, causing periodic exposure to smoke particles that can overwhelm the immune system and exacerbate and cause respiratory problems. Additionally, research has discovered correlations between smoke caused by summer wildfires, and more severe flu seasons the following winter. Consider:

• Surge capacity in healthcare settings to manage compounding impacts of wildfires smoke on respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID-19
• Advising against use of 'community clean air shelters', which offered respite from smoke in normal years, but are now risky because of the pandemic and the need for social distancing
• During smoky periods advise people to stay at home as much as possible with windows and doors closed
• If your house has forced air, install a filter that filters harmful particles (with a MERV rating of 13 or higher). If not, select one room of your home, ideally the coolest one, and use a portable air cleaner
• Where possible/needed use properly fitting N95 respirator masks to filter smoke particles, as COVID-19 cloth/face coverings don't offer protection from smoke

Heat waves pose a particular risk to those already vulnerable to COVID-19 including the elderly (>65 years), and those with pre-existing health conditions (e.g. cardiovascular, pulmonary, kidney disease), and essential workers. COVID-19 and heat can put strains on health, and on surge capacity plans for hospitals to deal with concurrent risks. Additionally, people may expose themselves to other risks such as limiting social distancing measures to check in on older neighbours. Consider how to:

• Collaborate with formal and informal social service systems to identify and reach vulnerable individuals with information and support to protect them
• Increase the use of telephone outreach programmes for daily check-ins with the most vulnerable
• Increase enrolment of vulnerable people into check-ins and resources to run the system
• Review plans for in-home safety checks. Ensure the health and safety of staff, volunteers and the people they visit through training and the provision of PPE
• Identify high-risk communities by reviewing where local heat islands occur, and where this may overlap with high incidence or risk of COVID-19
• Assist efforts to review and expand social safety net programmes to support at-home cooling strategies for the most vulnerable e.g. utilise expanding energy subsidies to ensure households can afford home cooling measures

Further information on how to carry out public outreach on heatwaves during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found here: http://climatecentre.org/downloads/files/HWG%20appendix%20Extreme%20Heat%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic.pdf

This lesson was contributed to by a Chief Resilience Officer in Colombia during project data collection.

Effective local climate leadership is central in tackling local climate disasters such as floods, forest fires and extreme heatwaves. Local governments are adept at initiating infrastructure investments, policies, and programs that strengthen resilience against future climate stresses and shocks. Consider how to locally navigate climate-action priorities through the COVID-19 crisis to:

• Boost climate-action momentum to mitigate risks and costs of delayed action e.g. combined impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on vulnerable people, economic disruption, public health (clean air, sufficient safe food and water)
• Prepare for impacts of climate change and COVID-19. Address threat multipliers such as pollution or natural disasters through local reduction of carbon emissions, retrofitting buildings, defences, and ring-fenced funding
• Build on residents' and businesses' behaviour changes during the pandemic that reduce emissions and enhance resiliency e.g. working from home, careful used of medical resources
• Maximize local benefits of an economic recovery that is climate friendly e.g. focus on the circular economy, use of renewable energies

The Circular Economy calls for all materials in manufacturing to be reused, recycled or biodegradable. COVID-19 has raised new questions about plastics use and sustainability of, for example, using single-use surgical gowns, masks and gloves. Consider:

• investing in new protective materials that are reusable or biodegradable and that replace harmful plastics
• the environmental friendliness of cleaning products that will end up in waterways and oceans
• the potential health implications of contamination

This lesson was contributed to by a Chief Resilience Officer in Denmark, and the source below.

Much of the focus on the environment has been on the burden societies put upon natural resources. However, a people-centered perspective can be more appropriate in some contexts with extreme weather conditions or water shortages. For example, consider:

• that greening energy can raise energy bills which puts cost burdens on people in lockdown. In one US city, energy bills can reach up to 50% of people's income. This puts personal finances at risk which can create other behaviours that adversely impact the environment e.g. eating cheaper foods from less sustainable/environmentally friendly sources
• that telling people the cost of energy to them can encourage them to use less. This can also improve their receptiveness to adopting energy-saving practices

This lesson was contributed by a Chief Resilience Officer in the USA during project data collection.

Water Management can make safer and more sustainable communities, and due to COVID-19, communities already effected by water inequality could become even further disadvantaged. Points to consider when exploring water management during COVID-19:

• Improving access points to water in a way that avoids queues/crowds forming at water points
• Identifying how to avoid water points becoming breading hotspots for Covid-19
• How movement restrictions would impact on individuals' ability to attend a water point to access clean water, and how to overcome these impacts
• Improving water cleanliness to avoid secondary diseases and potential malnutrition from, for example, diarrhoea
• Improving the management of water supply, including strict water governance. For example:
  • Consider disruption of food supply from a lack of workforce
  • Prepare for potential dry season cropping by managing water reserves
  • Anticipate (so to mitigate) the effect of disasters (such as drought and famine)
  • Consider how to manage migration to aid camps where social distancing is more difficult
• Improving water recycling to reduce the release of untreated wastewater into the environment
• Education and facilitation to make communities more resilient to changes in the environment and future events such as Covid-19

COVID-19 has exposed disparities in access to open and green space. Improved access can have positive effects on physical and mental health, communities as a whole and the environment. Consider impacts on:

The individual:

• Provides areas for exercise, and improves mental health
• Park closures and restrictions on movement due to COVID-19 negatively and disproportionately effects those without gardens and those who are less economically well off

The community:

• Increasing the quantity of green spaces reduces traffic which reduces pollution and encourages city safety
• Green space for social housing directly addresses socio-economic disparities regarding
• Can simultaneously address other environmental factors such as flood risk management

In Denmark, an urban development project considers:

• Mitigating loneliness e.g. day-care for children has been integrated into a nursing home
• Bike lanes that link the suburbs to larger cities
• Availability of accessible green spaces to support mental and physical wellbeing
• Social housing to improve quality of life of poor or marginalized people. This includes a health focus on proximity living which can increase risk of disease
• Renewable energy supply to the building to provide energy security which is important during emergencies

This lesson was contributed by a Chief Resilience Officer in Denmark during project data collection.

While disposable masks are necessary for keyworkers, promoting more environmentally friendly alternatives such as reusable masks and more frequent hand washing (opposed to disposable gloves) could be considered. Plastic pollution, already a threat to marine life and oceans has increased as a result of COVID-19 waste. Public campaigns to encourage the use of environmentally friendly alternatives and appropriate disposal could be considered.

Across the world we witness how local governments have seized the initiative to incorporate new measures that have the potential to address climate change. Climate change is a crisis that precludes, has continued during and will be present after coronavirus. Many of the innovations in place are temporary but it is essential they are turned into permanent fixtures and extended upon. To follow leading practices consider:

Thinking creatively to reduce carbon emissions through transport infrastructure transformation:

• Widening pedestrian and cycle lanes
• Reducing car parking space and closing roads to cars
• Increasing tax rates for car drivers and creating a 'city in 15 minutes' where access to all essential services can be reached without using a car

Measuring and maintaining community benefits of carbon reductions:

• Understanding the job creation opportunities e.g. Copenhagen estimates that it will create 35,000 jobs with its transition to zero carbon emissions
• Identifying the immediate life-saving health benefits from moving to carbon neutral cities
• Realising the increase in emotional and physical health and wellbeing connected to less air and noise pollution

Changing approaches to work life:

• Remote working can be easily continued for many and is a key factor in reducing carbon emissions
• Investing in remote working platforms, promoting home working, increasing cycle to work schemes and reducing car parking at workplaces

TMB Issue 10 brings together the reflections of our learning from the first 10 weeks of gathering lessons on recovery and renewal from COVID-19. Follow the source link below to read all of the reflections from our team (p.9-15).

Colombia is expecting El Nino, a climate cycle that will result in drought. Local government has brought together a climate change committee with academics and experts to inform local action on the impacts of water shortages and power loss during COVID-19. Consider:

• Running tabletop exercises that model water shortages and energy loss alongside the pandemic and its impacts on hospitals, cleaning infrastructure and public health
• Scenario planning that considers different states of lockdown and the impacts of COVID-19 and a climate emergency
• Scenario planning that considers the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and a climate emergency
• Public campaigns on conservation of water and energy, and how to manage these during a climate emergency

This lesson was contributed by a Chief Resilience Officer in Colombia during project data collection.

Degraded habitats can encourage faster evolutionary processes and disease diversification, because pathogens spread more easily. Consider:

• The risk of developing into habitats into largely undisturbed places where viruses are transmitted more easily
• Conservation of natural barriers between virus host animals-in which the virus is naturally circulating-and people
• Controlling markets that sell live animals where possible. In countries that rely on markets due to older infrastructure (e.g. no refrigeration), focus on the provision of health care and education on the safety of eating certain species
• Develop ties with local communities to address behaviours around conservation, disease and wild animal consumption
• Communicate the risks of pathogens and disease to hunters, loggers, market traders and consumers

The reduction of international travel has had positive environmental effects, but has negatively impacted conservation in developing countries. Consider:

• How the effects of eco-tourism collapse and how to support conservation of the worlds' core ecosystems
• How the economic implications of COVID-19 may impact surges in poaching, illegal fishing and deforestation, and how this can be policed
• The dangers to Park Rangers who protect wildlife, and measures to protect staff from violence

Shut down and start-up processes at facilities need special attention to prevent accidents. Consider:

• If the shutdown is for a longer or undetermined duration then the operator needs to be aware of safety measures which should be taken
• Some hazardous materials degrade over time. These inventories need to be minimised and their situation monitored
• Nitrogen blanketing to protect against explosive atmospheres should be maintained
• Any loss of electrical power during the period of shut down may affect any systems that need to be maintained in operation (e.g. cooling, ventilation, pumping, stirring)
• Some processes, such as the storage of refrigerated gases, depend on a regular rate of consumption to maintain safe operating pressures. Reduced consumption due to a shutdown must be assessed and appropriate measures taken
• Warehouses that are not opened regularly may heat up due to external temperatures and absorption of solar radiation. This can lead to the release of hazardous materials or the build-up of hazardous atmospheres within the warehouse

This could include:

• Retrofitting programmes to make buildings more energy-efficient
• Mass tree planting
• Investment in solar and wind power
• Building infrastructure required for increased consumption and use of electric cars such as improved electricity networks, and public and personal capacity for charging stations

Additionally, due to lockdown these measures may not be as disruptive to people's daily lives compared to, for example, offices being retrofitted while in constant use.

This lesson was conributed to by Chief Resilience Officers in Italy and Australia during project data collection, along with the source link below.

This may include:

• Reimagining how cities are built and organised e.g. Brussels is creating 40km of new cycle paths; France is providing cyclists with subsidies; UK has announced a œ2bn infrastructure scheme to encourage more walking and cycling
• Accelerating environmentally friendly projects such as increased investment in electric vehicle infrastructure

Also consider the unintended consequences of green infrastructure solutions. In the case of battery production for electric vehicles, consideration should be given to the environmental degradation caused by mining for battery components for electric vehicles, the ethical considerations of using mines in developing countries, the lifecycle of batteries and how they will be recycled in large quantities.

While COVID-19 has had positive impacts on pollution levels, the creation of additional plastic waste from PPE and disposable items is going to landfill. Consider:

• Campaigns to remind people and businesses of the disadvantages of single-use plastics, and the benefits of reusable containers i.e. water bottles and carrier bags
• Campaigns to educate and remind people and businesses of the environmental impact of non-recyclable takeaway food packaging
• What can be done to mitigate the environmental impacts of increasing medical waste that is contaminated or not economical to recycle

PPE for recycling plant workers will be required to reduce waste going to landfill and consideration will need to be given to mitigate the impacts of dropping oil prices limited on the economies of recycling.

For example:

• Consider how trusted experts can support discussions about the climate change agenda and inform public policy
• Consider how new behaviours adopted through the pandemic can be encouraged to support the climate change agenda, and how people's adaptability can be harnessed
• Consider how short-term actions can be embedded in longer-term climate change actions e.g. the reduction of unnecessary air travel (e.g. for business meetings) and the encouragement of more home-working (e.g. using videoconferencing)
• Learn from 'known unknowns' - foreseen possibilities that are not obviously (such as pandemics and climate change) and therefore lacked effective emergency planning

This includes the built environment including buildings and roads and green spaces, like parks. Consider how future development of the environment can mitigate possible resurgence of COVID-19 infection by providing space to better facilitate social distancing. Consider:

• Incorporate into planning approval, criteria that new housing development proposals should include green space including 'green roofs' or communal gardens and squares
• Incorporate into planning approval, criteria that new building developments do not reduce public walkways - indeed, they should look to expand public walkways
• Use abandoned spaces as pocket parks (with limitations on the number of people allowed in together)
• Temporarily close roads to provide more walking space

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This lesson was contributed by a Chief Resilience Officer in the Netherlands during project data collection.

In the UK, parts of the city of York is made up of very narrow lanes in which social distancing would not be possible. The following measures, which could be applied to other locations with similar city designs are considered:

• Develop a pedestrian one-way-system with road markings, cones or barriers to mitigate people having to pass closely to one another. Consider markings that are temporary to preserve areas of historic interest
• Install hand sanitiser dispensers on streets, recognising that these may be alcohol based
• Initiate measures to keep pedestrians moving such as restricting photography

Cities such as Milan, Italy are developing strategies to retain street space from cars, providing 35km (22 miles) of transformed streets to accommodate an experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. The Strade Aperte plan includes low-cost temporary cycle lanes, new and widened pavements, 30kph (20mph) speed limits, and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets. The locations include a low traffic neighbourhood on the site of the former Lazzaretto.

Similar plans for investments in bicycle-friendly infrastructure is being considered in the Netherlands, with a focus on expansion of the programme in cities and suburbs.

Reference: Chief Resilience Officer, Netherlands

Renewable energy sources can reduce pressure on the system as they are independent of the grid and diesel fuel back-up, they can power hospitals, schools, water treatment plants and water distribution, telecommunications, banking systems, police stations and critical agriculture production to maintain food supplies.

Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta have seen reduction in Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Sulphur oxides (SOx). Bird species are recovering and animals are reclaiming roads and beaches. Rainfall patterns also appear to be changing. Consider the impact on the environment when production and supply chains recover.

Reference: Government of India representative

This can include:

• Don't forget the basics. Urban design should facilitate certain behaviours and feelings, and shape a built environment that creates value (economic, social, environmental, health, individual, safety)
• Consider redefining what we mean by Place+Making. Ultimately, places are a socially constructed phenomena so can the definition of place be broadened i.e. virtual spaces (Milan brought museums and art galleries online, working from home).
• Consider how urban spaces can perpetuate inequities i.e. accessibility, affordability, and how basic needs can be met.
• Learn from inequalities that arise to tackle social issues such as loneliness, discrimination etc.

Investment that considers sustainability to support the 'green agenda' and to continue reduction seen in Co2 emissions as a result of COVID-19.

It is important to consider the impacts on both the environment and people's health and safety when restrictions on movements to national parks, beaches and beauty spots are lifted during recovery. The issue is twofold. Firstly, there are health and safety risks associated with lifting restrictions on access to outdoor spaces. An influx of visitors to national parks and beaches could result in a rise in emergency situations such a person being pulled out to sea or lost on mountains.

Consideration should be given to the possible increased need for, and pressure on, mountain rescue and coast guard services. This draws attention to the need for visitor management, inclusive of carparks at nature sites where social distancing is difficult.

Secondly, many countries are seeing wildlife flourishing, whether this is the return of birds or animals, or the rewilding of green spaces. Lifting restrictions could place extreme pressures on the environment due to the influx of human visitors and may lead to the destruction of habitats. Consideration should be given to working closely with conservation experts and educators to inform governments and the public about how to protect and enjoy these spaces, and to encourage ownership of the conservation process.

Reference: Emergency Planner, Canada