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Climate action for economic recovery

September 2020

Embedding ambitious climate action at the heart of economic recovery

Dear Ministers,

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global emergency wreaking health and economic devastation, endangering lives and communities everywhere. It is a stark reminder of our economic system’s fragility, exposing deep social inequalities and our interconnected vulnerability to systemic shocks, including climate change.

The emergence of this threat does not reduce the need to respond to the ongoing climate emergency, which remains the most significant long-term threat to economic and social stability.

The science is clear: the longer we delay action on climate at the pace and scale needed, the more complex the impacts will be to mitigate, with disastrous effects on people and the planet.

Government, business and society leaders have a collective responsibility to unite behind the science and act in coordination to keep global warming increase to a maximum of 1.5°C. That means halving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in this decade and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

Even amid the disruption of COVID-19, companies remain committed to climate action: over 990 companies are committed to setting science-based emissions reduction targets, with many companies raising ambition in recent months, including accelerating climate investments and projects as part of their plans.

More than 1,200 major global companies have called on governments to invest in climate action and resilience to create jobs and recover better. By tackling climate and COVID-19 together we can deliver a just and inclusive economic recovery and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy. It makes good business sense.

Studies show that policies that reduce GHG emissions help ensure a more resilient and sustainable labor market, deliver higher short-term returns per dollar spent and lead to increased long-term cost savings compared with traditional fiscal stimulus.

Climate ambition and action are vital tools for companies to enhance resilience, competitiveness, innovation and long-term growth potential. There is evidence that companies that integrate sustainability into their businesses outperform those taking less action even during these turbulent times. Companies with a core focus on sustainability are better positioned to withstand the impacts of systemic shocks, including the inevitable impacts of climate change.

We welcome initial efforts from some governments to develop long-term economic recovery plans that incorporate principles of sustainable growth and climate action to build stronger, more resilient economies.

The Next Generation EU budget aims to achieve a sustainable and fair recovery while supporting ambitious objectives towards climate neutrality by 2050 by channeling 25% of overall spending to climate-related investment. In France, economic bailouts for major companies included conditions linked to climate action. In Japan, economic recovery and stimulus packages reference several environmental measures aimed at accelerating the transition, including incentives for renewable energy. In Canada, measures to support companies impacted by COVID-19 require companies to commit to publish annual climate-related disclosure reports, including how their future operations will support environmental sustainability and national climate goals.

However, much more is needed. We need very clear government action, stimulus packages and related policies that give businesses the clarity and confidence they need to also invest decisively in a zero-carbon recovery. Neither governments nor businesses can do this alone.

To address the climate crisis while boosting economic growth, creating decent jobs, addressing inequality and increasing resilience, we call on leaders to:

  • Prioritize policy and spending to accelerate the transition to an inclusive, just, resilient, zero-carbon economy, including investments in: innovation, renewable energy, zero-carbon transport, zero-carbon materials and built environment, decarbonizing industrial sectors and embedding circular economy, drive sustainable agriculture and food systems, and invest in natural climate solutions.
  • Recognize the vital importance of multilateral institutions and international cooperation to tackle global challenges in line with science.
  • Take firm action to permanently remove market-distorting fossil fuel subsidies, and put a meaningful price on carbon that incentivizes cost-effective, zero-carbon investment.
  • To fully manage climate change risks and ensure that financial markets act accordingly, make climate-related financial disclosure mandatory across the economy in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations.
  • Ensure that central banks and financial regulators embed effective climate risk management into financial systems and their operations and shift their portfolio investment to zero-carbon investments.
  • Ensure that finance flows to support climate transition and build resilience in developing countries and vulnerable communities.
  • Support a just, fair and inclusive transition: invest in zero-carbon industries and job creation, while supporting workers and communities through the transition.

Soon to be released analysis commissioned by the We Mean Business coalition shows the GDP and employment benefits of green recovery measures to stimulate renewables, energy efficiency, EVs, or tree planting over traditional stimulus measures by governments (a VAT or sales cut). In all geographies modelled (global, the EU, Germany, Poland, the UK, USA, Japan and India) green recovery measures were found to be more effective at creating jobs, increasing GDP and lowering GHG emissions. (For more information on this analysis, please email Dominic Gogol, Policy Manager at We Mean Business – [email protected]). 

We need clear and consistent government policies and spending that support and incentivize the full decarbonization of every system of the economy to inform businesses and investors, so they too can invest decisively in zero-carbon solutions.

Many companies are shifting their investments to zero-carbon solutions aligned with 1.5°C scenarios. But we need more companies to come on this journey. In doing so they will reduce their risks, build resilience and set themselves on a path towards further success.

To accelerate this, companies receiving long-term public financial assistance should be required to:

  • Adopt science-based approaches to inform company strategy including implementing science-based targets consistent with limiting global average temperature increase to 1.5°C and reaching net-zero emissions by no later than 2050.
  • Integrate climate risk into company disclosures in line with the recommendations of the TCFD.
  • Invest in zero-carbon solutions that create good jobs in their companies and value chains.

A zero-carbon aligned recovery will enable companies to invest and innovate at the pace and scale necessary to create decent jobs, protect health, reduce emissions and increase resilience.

As you prepare for your deliberations in the upcoming Ministerial meetings, we urge you to endorse the findings of this year’s B20 Task Force on Energy, Sustainability and Climate. In its Policy Paper the Task Force proposes several policy recommendations aimed at driving climate action including:  investments in renewables, scaling up nature-based solutions, driving the adoption of carbon pricing and climate disclosure measures, as well as programs to ensure a just transition and transition to a circular economy. 

The decisions you make now will determine the strategic direction of the global economy for years to come. They must enable the world to increase climate action at the necessary speed and scale.

Business is acting to build a zero-carbon economy, and stands ready to work with government leaders at this critical moment to drive the transformational change we need.

Sincerely,

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