A Green and Just Recovery from COVID-19?
Government Investment in the Energy Transition during the Pandemic

This Element explores the extent to which governments are 'building back better' from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kyla Tienhaara (Author), Tom Moerenhout (Author), Vanessa Corkal (Author), Joachim Roth (Author), Hannah Ascough (Author), Jessica Herrera Betancur (Author), Samantha Hussman (Author), Jessica Oliver (Author), Kabir Shahani (Author), Tianna Tischbein (Author)

9781009462570, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 November 2023

102 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.1 cm, 0.29 kg

Stimulus spending to address the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to either facilitate the transition away from fossil energy or to lock in carbon-intensive technologies and infrastructure for decades to come. Whether they are focused on green sectors or not, stimulus measures can alleviate or reinforce socio-economic inequality. This Element delves into the data in the Energy Policy Tracker to assess the extent to which energy policies adopted during the pandemic will expedite decarbonization and explores whether governments address inequities through policies targeted to disadvantaged, marginalized and underserved individuals and communities. The overall finding is that the recovery has not been sufficiently green or just. Nevertheless, a small number of policies aim to advance distributive justice and provide potential models for policymakers as they continue to attempt to 'build back better'. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

1. Introduction
2. Literature review
3. Energy policies during the pandemic
4. Conclusions
Acronyms and abbreviations
Appendix
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: International environmental law [LBBP]