Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada

This executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines seven 'green conditions' that the Canadian government should apply to its economic recovery efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure alignment with climate goals and a transition to a low-carbon economy.

• The authors argue that the Canadian government has a responsibility to impose standards and conditions on bailouts and recovery spending to ensure they align with the climate outcomes expected by the public, noting that a 'green recovery' can drive economic growth and job creation.
• The document proposes seven specific 'green conditions' for the recovery: 1) industrial support must require a transition to zero emissions; 2) financial conditions should include climate risk disclosure and bans on shareholder dividends/buybacks; 3) recovery must prioritize workers and a just transition for those leaving high-carbon sectors; 4) priority should be given to low-carbon sectors and infrastructure; 5) environmental regulations and climate policies must be protected and strengthened; 6) federal spending and conditions must be transparent and enforceable; and 7) support must increase equity and well-being.
• Industrial support must specifically align with Canada's goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to avoid long-term commitment to unsustainable pathways.

APA

Corkal, V., Gass, P., & Cosbey, A. (2020). Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/green-strings-covid-19-canada-summary-fr.pdf

Chicago

Corkal, Vanessa, Philip Gass, and Aaron Cosbey. Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/green-strings-covid-19-canada-summary-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Corkal |first1=Vanessa |last2=Gass |first2=Philip |last3=Cosbey |first3=Aaron |title=Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/green-strings-covid-19-canada-summary-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{corkal2020green, author = {Corkal, Vanessa and Gass, Philip and Cosbey, Aaron}, title = {{Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/green-strings-covid-19-canada-summary-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }