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Whose Green Recovery? Why poorer countries must not be left behind by richer countries’ recovery plans (October 2020)

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Poor countries could turn to fossil fuels as 'green recovery' leaves them behind says new report

A new report from development charity Christian Aid has warned that post-Covid stimulus packages are in danger of widening global inequality and pushing poorer countries to turn to fossil fuels which would threaten the success of the UK's COP26 climate summit.

The report, Whose Green Recovery, analyses the various economic stimulus plans around the world. The report reveals that:

  • There is a dangerous lack of policies that will help developing countries, potentially wiping out climate gains in the Global North
  • More than half a trillion dollars going to carbon-intensive industries
  • Failure to add bailout conditions which would accelerate the zero carbon transition

Recovery plans deemed 'green' are almost entirely made up of domestic policies which do little to help poorer countries trying to recover from the economic fallout of Covid-19.

Despite rhetoric about the importance of a green recovery, more than half a trillion dollars worldwide are being given to carbon-intensive businesses with 70% more recovery aid going to fossil fuel producers and high carbon sectors such as airlines than green solutions.

COP26-host, the UK, has provided more than £5 billion to oil and gas, airlines and other transport sectors without being asked to make any commitments to a zero carbon transition, undermining their efforts to show global climate leadership.

The danger is that if left without support, poorer nations facing desperate challenges may be forced to use cheap coal to aid their recovery. This could see the climate gains of the green stimulus in the Global North wiped out, destabilise the Paris Agreement ahead of the crucial COP26 summit in Glasgow next year and leave the world on a perilous course towards global heating of more than 1.5C.

A truly global green recovery, featuring debt cancelation, fossil fuel subsidy removal and greater investment in overseas renewables rather than fossil fuels is what is required.

Dr Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's Climate Lead, said: "It's clear that the economic recovery measures announced so far have been a mixed bag with far too much poured into polluting industries.

"The zero carbon investment plans such as home insulation, cycling infrastructure and clean energy are needed and very welcome but what is also needed is support for the poorest and most vulnerable.

"We face the prospect of rich countries in the Global North becoming cleaner, better connected and cushioned from the economic fallout, while poorer nations are being left to fend for themselves.

"This massive cash injection designed to generate domestic economic growth, will likely see the gap between global rich and poor grow even larger."

In the Global South there is concern that a lack of foreign investment through tourism and travel, combined with a large debt burden, may see the short-term allure of cheap coal outweighing the long-term benefits of clean economic investment.

Mohamed Adow, Director of Nairobi-based climate and energy think tank, Power Shift Africa, said: "Many developing countries are on the cusp of sweeping development over the next few years. They stand at a fork in the road. How these countries choose to rebuild from the pandemic will play a huge part in determining whether the goals of the Paris Agreement are met.

"Without support from richer nations there is a real danger that they feel there's no other option but to follow the fossil fuel path taken by Europe and North America during the last century.

"Covid-19 continues to be a grave tragedy, but the economic recovery is an opportunity to reset the world's trajectory away from crisis and model the kind of international solidarity needed to tackle the climate emergency."

The report outlines what needs to happen to create a truly global green recovery which will see emissions reduced helping those that need it most and fending off the threat of fossil fuel expansion in developing countries. These include:

  • G20 countries cancelling debt repayments of poor countries to give them the fiscal space to mitigate the health and economic impact of Covid-19 and invest in greening their economies.
  • All governments must remove fossil fuel subsidies and invest in renewable energy and green job creation instead.
  • Governments of OECD countries, such as the UK, must cease all new direct and indirect public support for fossil fuels projects in other countries, including the use of aid budgets and export credits. Instead, aid and export credits should be used to scale up renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access for the poorest.
  • All donor countries must allocate at least 50% of their climate finance support in poorer countries to adaptation and commit to a new global adaptation finance goal.
  • Countries must incorporate nature-based solutions into their national climate plans (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and invest in the restoration of ecosystems which are often vital to communities in the Global South.
  • Bailouts of carbon-intensive companies that are currently dependent on fossil fuels should be conditional on these companies having plans to transition to net zero with a clear timeline.