Priorities for a green recovery following the coronavirus pandemic

This is possible by delivering a low-carbon recovery from the pandemic that delivers new jobs and infrastructure during this moment of renewal.

As the UK carefully emerges from lockdown, attention is turning to how we rebuild our economy. Whilst we continue to fight against the virus, we are presented with an opportunity to deliver action that will help deal with a longer-term, but just as urgent crisis – climate change.

The CBI has written to the Prime Minister with recommendations on how to ‘Build Back Better’. Central to this was a call to deliver investment into the green economy, which will help create new, sustainable jobs that also support the pressing need to decarbonise our society.

To support this call, the CBI has prepared a paper that outlines the opportunities from this moment of renewal, with a set of principles and policy recommendations for government to consider.

Our principles summarised

• Prioritise public spending and policy on low-carbon programmes that deliver short-term economic and social benefits and lay the foundations for a resilient, net-zero economy
• With the help of the private sector, deliver on existing fiscal commitments from the Budget to leverage investment and cut emissions
• Look beyond the fiscal remit to drive investment and stimulate a green recovery through smarter regulation and clear policy
• Build the foundations of a green economic recovery into plans to support companies recovering from the pandemic
• Coordinate a global response to the climate crisis.

Informed by CBI members, these principles are underpinned by a set of urgent policy actions such as energy efficiency investment to create jobs around the country, support for electric vehicles to maintain the benefits of cleaner air, and developing technologies like carbon capture that will help us get to net-zero emissions.

You can read our recommendations in full here, and contribute further to our work as we continue to work with business and government on the priorities for a clean and sustainable recovery for the future.