Green policies essential for UK’s economic recovery

Green policies such as increasing use of renewable energy and investing in electric vehicles should be at the heart of Government recovery plans after the Covid-19 crisis, according to a briefing paper co-authored by Professor Paul Ekins (UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources). The document, put together by the COP26 Universities Network of which UCL is a member, draws on new research assessing the economic and climate impact of taking a green route out of the crisis. It outlines a climate-friendly path to recovery following the Covid-19 crisis, identifying ten fiscal recovery policies that combine high economic impact with long-term benefits for the climate. The briefing paper argues that stimulus packages following Covid-19 will not only significantly affect the UK's future prosperity but also its potential to meet its legally mandated net zero emissions obligation. Among the policies emphasised are:  Investing in renewable energy and modernising the grid to support use of renewables and the electrification of the heat and transport sectors. Reducing industrial emissions, for instance by introducing financial incentives. Investing in low and zero-carbon infrastructure projects, such as public transport infrastructure, that are also resilient to the impacts of climate change.