The Society for Planet and Prosperity is delighted to be working in partnership with the European Climate Foundation (ECF) on a high-impact project on Promoting a Green and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery in West Africa with Nigeria and Ghana as case studies. The project is intended to provide analysis that will help West African countries to integrate climate change action as a central objective in the planning and implementation of their economic recovery plans. We hope to this by creating concrete recommendations that can help facilitate green recovery, and convening a series of strategic events and activities to promote the uptake of such recommendations.
The COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the economy of African countries. In response to the growing spread of the virus globally, African countries implemented nation-wide lockdowns in late March 2020. The lockdowns are beginning to be eased but the impact of the pandemic on the economies of African countries is likely to remain deep and long-lasting. Many African countries have put in place or are beginning to elaborate post COVID recovery plans to help stimulate their economies.
There is a danger that if care is not taken, that governments, keen to revive their economies will abandon their ambitious climate commitments and targets and begin to invest billions and trillions in the sort of economic activities that caused the climate change in the first place. For example, eager to save jobs and kick-start the economy governments could subsidize fossil fuel, lower vehicle emission standards, relax ban on coal mining, remove taxes on high polluting economic activities, etc.
At the same time, it is possible that governments can act decisively in utilizing steps to reboot the economy into opportunities to invest in sustainable sectors, create millions of new green jobs, and facilitate a global green growth transition. The aim of this project is to help West African countries to integrate climate change action as a central objective in the planning and implementation of their economic recovery plans.
It is our hope that by creating concrete recommendations that can help facilitate green recovery, and convening a series of strategic events and activities to promote the uptake of such recommendations we will be able to provide impetus for a just green transition.
Outputs of the project include a full report on a green recovery and resilient recovery in West Africa, a High-Level Dialogue on Promoting a Green and Resilient Recovery in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa. policy briefs, webinars and other stakeholder events to socialise the report.
For more information, please contact Gboyega OLORUNFEMI (Project Officer, Green and Resilient Post-Covid-19 Recovery, West Africa) Phone: +234 803 391 4963; Mail: gaolorunfemi@gmail.com