COVID-19 Report - 34

Recommendation 3: Build a more sustainable
relationship between people and nature
through sustainable and just economic recovery
approaches with defined and holistic goals
Immediate action: Develop economic recovery
packages that respond to immediate needs while
building long-term resilience. Governments are
developing and distributing unprecedented stimulus recovery
packages. These must deliver social and economic benefits
to all, particularly the most vulnerable, as well as ensure
sustainable livelihoods. It is essential that these investments
are linked to positive action for climate, nature and the
Sustainable Development Goals, and do not support or
subsidize sectors that are highly polluting or that pose a threat
to natural ecosystems. For example, the EU has announced
a stimulus plan of €750 billion, equivalent to 4 per cent of
its members' total GDP, to be driven by the European Green
Deal.153 Similarly, Japan has announced a US$1.1 trillion
stimulus package to support a sustainable recovery,154 and
New Zealand has announced NZ$1.1 billion for "nature-based
jobs"155.
These actions include: 
●● Linking stimulus packages and public investments to
positive action for climate and nature in line with the
Sustainable Development Goals, with incentives and
support for climate-smart, nature-based solutions, a
circular economy, green jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
●● Using stimulus packages to help local communities develop
alternative livelihood opportunities, especially in the
tourism sector, that build sustainability and resilience
while protecting their rights.
●● Tightening regulation on sectors receiving support to
ensure subsidies and bailouts are not used to boost
polluting industries such as oil, gas, aviation and other
sectors that harm the environment. Support should be
made conditional on companies committing to preventing
deforestation and land conversion, ensuring a low-carbon
transition in line with the Paris Agreement, and protecting
the rights of IPLCs.156
●● Providing debt relief in a way that supports economic
resilience through investment in a sustainable, low-carbon
development trajectory.
●● Measuring the impact of different recovery plans on nature
and the climate through existing impact tools.157
●● Increasing efforts to implement the CBD Aichi Biodiversity
Targets.

WWF INTERNATIONAL 2020
COVID-19 Report

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of COVID-19 Report
