NGOs call for a postCOVID green recovery

Investment into renewable energy, green transport and ecosystem regeneration could boost the economy while benefitting the planet

Boris Johnson must implement policies to ensure a “resilient and inclusive” economic recovery in line with achieving net-zero emissions, a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) said in a letter to the prime minister in June.

The letter, signed by 57 leading charities including WWF, Oxfam, RSPB and the National Trust, urged the government to ensure public spending in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic puts the country on track to reach its goal of net-zero emissions.

All bailouts for business should also be conditional on plans and action to meet this goal, the letter added. It also called for support for the clean energy transition abroad, ending fossil fuel finance and helping developing countries to leapfrog to sustainable renewables.

NGOs say that greener transport should be invested in, as we emerge from the pandemic