COVID-19: Ten Priority Options for a Just, Green & Transformative Recovery

The briefing argues that the COVID-19 crisis exposed systemic fragilities and provides an opportunity to build resilience against climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. It outlines ten priority options, including the adoption of green economy principles, the use of 'Green Deals', the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and the implementation of gender-responsive recovery plans. The authors emphasize that recovery spending must align with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, particularly in the global South where public debt may limit fiscal space.

• Recovery plans should be guided by Green Economy Principles—including Wellbeing, Justice, Sufficiency & Efficiency, Planetary Boundaries, and Good Governance—to ensure a just transition that protects the vulnerable and creates green jobs. Some regions already applying these principles include Amsterdam, Bhutan, Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand, and Scotland.
• Fiscal stimulus and financial aid should accelerate the green transition rather than undermine it. Examples include Austria and France making airline bailouts conditional on Paris Agreement adherence, and Poland and Denmark restricting aid to companies not in tax havens. The document suggests using innovative financing like debt-for-nature/climate swaps and biodiversity bonds.
• The energy transition should be accelerated by removing fossil fuel subsidies, which the IEA describes as economically and environmentally damaging. For instance, Nigeria's decision to scrap subsidies is expected to save the government at least $2 billion annually. Additionally, the African Union is working to advance renewable energy to address the fact that 600 million people in the region lack electricity.
• Recovery efforts must address gender inequality and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women, particularly regarding the wage gap and unpaid work. Hawaii is cited as implementing a feminist economic recovery plan to deliver decent wages and working conditions.
• Governments should prioritize the role of nature in risk reduction and employ nature-based solutions and public restoration schemes. Ethiopia, India, and South Africa are noted for having previously implemented large-scale public employment programmes that combined social protection with environmental rehabilitation.

APA

Green Economy Coalition (n.d.). COVID-19: Ten Priority Options for a Just, Green & Transformative Recovery. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/PIGE-COVID-10PriorityOptionsforaJustGreenTransformativeRecovery.pdf

Chicago

Green Economy Coalition. COVID-19: Ten Priority Options for a Just, Green & Transformative Recovery. n.d. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/PIGE-COVID-10PriorityOptionsforaJustGreenTransformativeRecovery.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Economy Coalition |title=COVID-19: Ten Priority Options for a Just, Green & Transformative Recovery |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/PIGE-COVID-10PriorityOptionsforaJustGreenTransformativeRecovery.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greeneconomycoalitionndcovid19, author = {{Green Economy Coalition}}, title = {{COVID-19: Ten Priority Options for a Just, Green \& Transformative Recovery}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/PIGE-COVID-10PriorityOptionsforaJustGreenTransformativeRecovery.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }