Post-coronavirus UK recovery dependent upon climate action

The Committee on Climate Change has stressed that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change is integral to the UK’s coronavirus recovery package.

The committee has written to he Prime Minister and First Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland setting out six key principles to rebuild the nation following the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter highlights that immediate steps are needed: to support reskilling, retraining and research; to build a climate-resilient economy; to scale up housing retrofits and build new homes that are fit for the future; to invest in low-carbon, resilient infrastructure such as improved broadband instead of new roads; to make it easy for people to work remotely, walk and cycle; and to expand tree planting, peatland restoration, green spaces and green infrastructure.

This all comes under the banner of tackling the wider ‘resilience deficit’ on climate change. This means that strong policies are needed to reduce the UK’s vulnerability to the destructive risks of climate change and to avoid a disorderly transition to Net Zero. They must be implemented alongside the response to coronavirus and will bring benefits to health, well-being and national security.

Lord Deben, chair of the CCC, said: “The COVID-19 crisis has shown the importance of planning well for the risks the country faces. Recovery means investing in new jobs, cleaner air and improved health. The actions needed to tackle climate change are central to rebuilding our economy. The government must prioritise actions that reduce climate risks and avoid measures that lock-in higher emissions.”