Global mayors are championing a green pandemic recovery

This article was originally published here by the C40 Knowledge Hub. It is part of a new report Agenda for a Green and Just Recovery set out by leading mayors and a complementary set of policy briefs written by C40 for cities beginning their recovery phases which can be found here._

When mayors from many of the world’s most powerful cities committed to No return to business as usual and formed the Global Mayors Covid-19 Recovery Task Force, they pledged to build a better, more sustainable and fairer society through the recovery from the crisis. Their vision is to define a recovery that addresses inequality and takes cities forward to a new thriving, prosperous and sustainable urban economy.

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To support the task force and inform a truly global perspective of what a post-Covid sustainable and equitable society could and should look like for cities, we invited economic experts from different regions to present their top three priorities for bringing about a green recovery and their advice on how cities can achieve this.

This collection of articles is intended to give a global outlook and shape regionally-appropriate responses for accelerating a green recovery in cities. Whilst there are regional nuances and differences, all experts agree that the response to the climate crisis and this global pandemic must be inextricably linked.

Regional priorities for cities, from economic experts

A post-Covid recovery for African cities needs to be inclusive, sustainable and job-rich

Professor Carlos Lopes and Professor Edgar Pieterse discuss an inclusive, sustainable and job-rich African green industrialisation – one that is community-driven and anchored in African cities’ and regions’ priorities and realities. Their top priorities are:

• Provide widespread energy access through renewables, and stop fossil fuel subsidies.
• Invest in safer, greener and affordable mobility.
• Invest in water and sanitation for economic opportunity.

Turn crisis into opportunity: Economic recovery after the pandemic should adopt green and low-carbon models in Chinese cities

In this article Qiu Boaxing outlines top priorities for Chinese cities as they recovery from Covid-19 and build resilience to future climate and heath crises. These are:

• Invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including integrating low-carbon technology into retrofitting programmes for traditional urban communities, as well as investing in upgrades to the grid and electric vehicle charging facilities.
• Invest in low-carbon green transport.
• Use digital technology to promote a low-carbon lifestyles and planning for smart cities.

This article is also available in Mandarin.

Post-Covid-19: Priority areas for mayors for better managing cities in East, Southeast Asia and Oceania

Dr Bindu Lohani discusses priorities for recovering post-Covid that will accelerate sustainable, socio-economic growth in cities in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Dr Lohani points to lessons from the pandemic that can be useful for mayors and cities to be better prepared for the future. These are:

• Focus on building resilience to health crises and climate change, and make this mandatory in all city management.
• Commit to sustainable and green growth as part of post-Covid stimulus packages.
• Focus on digital technology to leapfrog the opportunity to build smart cities.

Green recovery plans for Europe in response to coronavirus

Michael Jacobs talks about the challenge facing European cities as they recover from Covid-19 and the critical need for addressing the continuing climate crisis to be at the core of stimulus packages as cities bring economies back to life and tackle mass unemployment. His three priorities for mayors of European cities:

• Use demonstrated leadership in climate action to influence national level post-Covid recovery plans. Cities should be a major part of the design and delivery of stimulus packages.
• Invest in low-carbon and environmental projects with multiple benefits, particularly in job creation.
• Integrate and coordinate Covid-19 recovery stimulus packages with existing climate targets and objectives.

A fairer and more sustainable post-Covid world in Latin America

Dr Rogério Studart and Professor Sergio Avelleda make the financial case for cities to put sustainability at the heart of their investment plans post Covid-19. They outline top recommendations for cities in Latin America to recover from the pandemic in a fair and sustainable way that will prevent cities becoming centres of further health, social, economic and environmental crises.

• Improve existing public services through low-cost, high-impact investments.
• Invest in social, economic and residential infrastructure in marginalised areas.
• Think innovatively about the mobilisation of resources.

This article is also available in Portuguese and Spanish.

Urban climate justice as economic development post-COVID in North America

Professor Joan Fitzgerald presents critical approaches and priorities for a green and equitable recovery in North American cities, and provides practical advice and examples for how cities could do this. Her recommendations are:

• Prioritise environmental justice in neglected areas of cities as centres for climate action.
• Create jobs for unemployed and marginalised people.
• Support and lobby for national and state-level funding for green, equitable city investments.

South and West Asian cities can be engines of sustainability and inclusion following Covid-19

Dr Rajat Kathuria discusses why cities in South and West Asia must not resume business as usual growth paths following the pandemic and presents three priorities for how cities in the region can change course toward a green and just future. These are:

• Strengthen public services, particularly public transport, complemented with "nudges" to create changes in behaviour.
• Focus on creating cities that are compact, coordinated and connected.
• Collaborate with cities across the region to share knowledge and learned experiences.

(Picture credit: Unsplash)