A $14.9 trillion infusion of stimulus into national economies is the biggest peacetime mobilisation of public money ever, but the picture is mixed on how green the recovery is shaping up to be.
Jeffrey Beyer, Managing Director of Zest Associates, has assessed the stimulus of 30 countries to understand its impact on the environment. Canada and many European countries are investing in a low carbon recovery, but are also supporting emissions-intensive industries like oil and gas and airlines. The picture in the rest of the world is more bleak, including in major economies like the US, China and Japan, where stimulus spending continues to prop up an unsustainable business-as-usual economy.
The analysis, delivered through Vivid Economics Greenness of Stimulus Index, is getting attention around the world:
Asia Financial - Post Covid stimulus a unique chance to tackle climate change
Business Green - Green stimulus index - momentum towards green recovery is building, but progress remains too slow
Ethical Editor - Spending on green economic stimulus is slowly rising, study finds
The Energist - Global Covid-19 stimulus continues to damage environment
