The road to “local green recovery”: Signposts from COVID‐19 lockdown life in the UK

Abstract

Responding to the conspicuous absence of reference to the local scale in national and global discourses of “green recovery” from COVID‐19, this paper articulates a series of interlinked research agendas united by a focus on what a “green recovery” might involve at a local scale within the context of the United Kingdom. We argue that geography as a discipline is particularly well placed to contribute to theoretical and practical framings of “green recovery” as manifested at and through a range of scales, including the micro (individual), meso (household), and what we term “meso+” (neighbourhood). Specifically, we signpost what might be considered “green shoots” worthy of urgent empirical investigation – shifts in everyday life and practice catalysed by COVID‐19 and with the potential to underpin longer‐lasting transformations towards socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable localities.

Geography's lens, landscape architecture, and the green recovery

“…Given the above, it is little wonder that geographers have been summarised as possessing acute leadership potential for multidisciplinary endeavours (Baerwald, 2010) and as providing essential skills for the complexities of the twenty‐first century (Nagel, 2008). These broad assertions are given a timely focus by Collins & Welsh (2022, p. 1) who claim that the ‘discipline is particularly well placed to contribute to … green recovery’. Certainly, there is neat tessellation between Geography's lens and character, and the skills and capacities that international agencies have defined as necessary for green economies and recoveries, such as environmental leadership, collaboration and a commitment to cooperation across scales and localities (OECD, 2020; UNEP/UNESCO, 2016).…”

“…Collins and Welsh's work also highlights the need for geographers to engage with the public as communities of practice; groups that have rallied around common concerns such as resilience (see Jones et al, 2020, cited in Collins & Welsh, 2022). In the specific context of working with public communities of practice, Allert (2004) describes a shift in focus from data to ‘knowing’, through authentic processes of knowledge construction.…”

Could practices of reduced consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic facilitate transformative change for sustainability? Experiences from Sweden and Ireland

“…COVID-19 research has shown that people learned to use online platforms for virtual dinner parties, religious services, weddings, and music performances (Kirk and Rifkin, 2020;Sheth, 2020;Echegaray, 2021). The pandemic also gave people a chance to reconnect with one's closest relations and rediscover the importance of family relations with activities such as baking, cooking, gardening, jigsaw puzzling, family games, joint nature walks, outdoor activities, and local tourism (Benjamin et al, 2020;Borsellino et al, 2020;Kirk and Rifkin, 2020;Sofo and Sofo, 2020;Bohman et al, 2021;Echegaray, 2021;Lõhmus et al, 2021;Matacena et al, 2021;Collins and . /frsus.…”

“…Some COVID-19 literature stressed the positive role of new DIY competences in relation to cooking, baking, gardening, repairing and digital technology (Borsellino et al, 2020;Bin et al, 2021;Dartnell and Kish, 2021;Perkins et al, 2021;Forno et al, 2022). Another area is increase of physical activity, which in turn could serve to legitimize more outdoor activities and conservation of nature reserves in the local community (Zwanka and Buff, 2020;Collins and Welsh, 2022), and facilities for biking and bike-sharing (de Haas et al, 2020;Bergantino et al, 2021). Kirk and Rifkin (2020) argue that increased DIY-competences will bolster the feeling of competence and wellbeing thanks to ability to achieve things on one own (see also Sheth, 2020).…”

“…6). Another positive scenario is pictured by Collins and Welsh (2022) suggesting, by experiences from the UK context, that the pandemic could catalyze a "green recovery" on the local level, including support for more localized economies (see also Dartnell and Kish, 2021;Nemes et al, 2021;Forno et al, 2022). Experience with networks and neighborhood groups providing essential practical and emotional support for the most vulnerable could strengthen local social capital and a sense of care for the local, thus creating a preparedness for future health/environmental crises.…”