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”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local government should plan for the effect of cascading disasters that happen at the same time as Covid-19. This should plan for solutions and mass care and solutions which respect social distancing during evacuation and shelter.

Reference: American Red Cross, USA