Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

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”

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)

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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).

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

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.