Giving Compass' Take:

• The Coalition for Urban Transitions released a report that suggests seven ways that will bring us toward a "green recovery" out of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• How can donors help support economic recovery planning sustainably? What are the barriers to sustainability? 

• Learn more about a green recovery from the pandemic. 


Cities must be the primary beneficiaries of green investments for global nations to pursue a resilient, low-carbon recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Coalition for Urban Transitions.

That's the focus of the coalition's newest report, released Monday in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and C40 Cities. The paper analyzed how the allocation of stimulus funding across a number of environmental sectors can aid the international COVID-19 response and promote resiliency amid future crises.

The idea of a "green recovery" has been widely supported among local government officials in the United States and globally, with organizations like C40 Cities taking steps to develop task forces to prioritize climate in these efforts. A House subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and Environment is planning a hearing this month to examine the absence of climate and clean energy planning in national COVID-19 recovery efforts, with one House staffer saying the U.S. is "diverging from many other countries" who are prioritizing a green recovery.

There are some critics who argue that now is not the time to tackle climate challenges, as economic constraints hinder government operations, yet the authors of this report suggest climate actions align with economic recovery.

The idea of a "green recovery" has been widely supported among local government officials in the United States and globally, with organizations like C40 Cities taking steps to develop task forces to prioritize climate in these efforts. A House subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and Environment is planning a hearing this month to examine the absence of climate and clean energy planning in national COVID-19 recovery efforts, with one House staffer saying the U.S. is "diverging from many other countries" who are prioritizing a green recovery.

There are some critics who argue that now is not the time to tackle climate challenges, as economic constraints hinder government operations, yet the authors of this report suggest climate actions align with economic recovery.

  1. Green construction and retrofits
  2. Clean mobility
  3. Renewable energy
  4. Active transport
  5. Nature-based solutions
  6. Waste and resources
  7.  R&D for clean technologies

Read the full article about green COVID-19 recovery by Kristin Musulin at Smart Cities Dive.