Can We Have Our Cake and Eat It? A Review of the Debate on Green Recovery from the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

As we speed through the development and distribution of a vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic, economies are suffering through the worst decline of the century while, at the same time, being pushed to comply with global agreements regarding climate change. Because of this, the economic downturn is also seen as an opportunity to speed up the sustainability transition or, in simple terms, to achieve a “green recovery”. What can we expect from a green recovery? We address this question by reviewing position documents in the debate between green recovery and its opponent, “quick rebound”, in the Netherlands. We apply systems thinking to model causal arguments regarding key concepts comprising green recovery and identify issues of consensus and dissensus. Our findings indicate that green recovery is promising for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing growing socioeconomic inequalities. However, the position of what green recovery means for economic growth, including the development of gross domestic product and employment, is still largely unclear and at times contradictory. While some see tradeoffs, others suggest that economic growth and sustainability goals can be achieved simultaneously. Thus, we conclude by reflecting on the question: Can we have our cake and eat it?

Forest livelihoods and a “green recovery” from the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights and emerging research priorities from India

“…Emerging at a time when international efforts were already focused on responding to crises of environmental and social unsustainability, the pandemic and its side effects have stalled progress toward achieving several of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 ( Sachs et al, 2020 ). The convergence of these circumstances has led to calls for a “green recovery,” ( Sen, 2020 ), prioritizing sustainability and conservation alongside economic wellbeing ( Gusheva and de Gooyert, 2021 ; Kothari, 2021 ; Sandbrook et al, 2020 , and Taherzadeh, 2021 ).…”

Targeted Green Recovery Measures in a Post-COVID-19 World Enable the Energy Transition

“…Authors like Kapeller and Wildauer (2021) and Liu et al (2021) evaluated financial instruments like a wealth tax or replacing production taxes with taxes on GHG emissions to support a green recovery. Gusheva (2021) and Le Billon et al (2021) approached a green recovery from a socioeconomic inequality point of view.…”

Travel-Business Stagnation and SME Business Turbulence in the Tourism Sector in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The questionnaires in this study were used to collect data, including: (1) human resources; (2) business development; (3) product marketing; (3) the productivity of travel bureaus and SMEs; (4) business innovation; (5) technology utilization; (6) business diversification; (7) business stability; and (8) continuity of economic business. Furthermore, the questionnaire in the study was used for two functions, namely: (i) to describe the situation and conditions of travel and SME businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) to measure the data obtained through the questionnaire using an ordinal scale.…”

“…This means that less stable economic growth will not only have an impact on increasing development financing but will also affect the strategic-business sector that has been supporting economic growth so far. The implications of COVID-19 on the SDG contribute to fiscal policy, the deregulation of financial markets, strategic-business sectors, tourism businesses, and their impact on economic growth [5][6][7]. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to affecting economic stability, also has an impact on increasing unemployment, poverty, crime, and the stability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).…”