Unpacking the COVID-19 rescue and recovery spending: an assessment of

An assessment of COVID-19 rescue and recovery spending by 26 key emitters finds that only 22% of stimulus was allocated to low-carbon measures, while 35% supported the status quo and 4% supported high-carbon measures. The report concludes that these actions are inadequate relative to climate commitments and recommends better preparedness and project pipelines for future crises.

• Of the fiscal stimulus spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by 26 key emitters, only 22% was allocated to low-carbon measures. The largest share, 35%, supported the status quo (business-as-usual practice), while 4% was explicitly allocated to high-carbon measures.
• The collective rescue and recovery actions of the analyzed governments are considered inadequate when measured against their own long-term climate commitments and scientific evidence regarding the urgency of fighting climate change.
• Nearly two-thirds of the low-carbon spending across the assessed emitters is expected to have impacts that unfold over time. While this spending may have catalytic or enabling effects, it may not result in direct emission reductions before 2030.
• The authors provide three recommendations for policy makers: enhancing capabilities to swiftly implement low-carbon rescue measures, developing project pipelines aligned with the Paris Agreement and national targets to increase flexibility during crises, and using lessons from the COVID-19 response to integrate low-carbon budgeting into annual fiscal cycles.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2022). Unpacking the COVID-19 rescue and recovery spending: an assessment of. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/unpacking-the-covid-19-rescue-and-recovery-spending-an-assessment-of

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Unpacking the COVID-19 rescue and recovery spending: an assessment of. 2022. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/unpacking-the-covid-19-rescue-and-recovery-spending-an-assessment-of.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Unpacking the COVID-19 rescue and recovery spending: an assessment of |date=11 March 2022 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/unpacking-the-covid-19-rescue-and-recovery-spending-an-assessment-of |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2022unpacking, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Unpacking the COVID-19 rescue and recovery spending: an assessment of}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/unpacking-the-covid-19-rescue-and-recovery-spending-an-assessment-of}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }