Export Restrictions Tracker

On December 8, 2020, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced a new USD 708 billion economic stimulus package. The package will comprise about USD 384.5 billion in direct fiscal spending and initiatives aiming at reducing carbon emissions and fostering digital innovation. For example, USD 19.2 billion is earmarked for a fund to promote carbon neutrality...Read more »

The Italian government unveiled the outline of the national COVID-19 recovery plan, which will allocate a total of EUR 196 billion to six key areas. The plan includes the following investments: EUR 74.3 billion is earmarked for a green revolution and ecologic transition.EUR 48.7 billion will go toward digitalization and innovation.EUR 27.7 billion will be...Read more »

The Government of Finland intends to invest European Union (EU) stimulus funds in reducing carbon emissions and fostering ecological sustainability. Finland will receive about EUR 2.3 billion from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility during 2021–2023. These funds form part of the EUR 750 billion recovery fund that the EU is planning to provide to...Read more »

On November 25, the Government of the United Kingdom presented its spending review and the first National Infrastructure Strategy. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an investment of GBP 100 billion in infrastructure in 2021/2022. Despite recent political commitments, the National Infrastructure Strategy includes little new spending for green projects. For instance, GBP 27 billion is earmarked...Read more »

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, launched the first part of London’s Green New Deal fund. The investments of GBP 10 million aim to boost green jobs, tackle climate change, and address inequalities. This first phase of the package is expected to secure around 1,000 green jobs—for instance, related to solar panel installation and energy...Read more »

On November 17, 2020, the United Kingdom government unveiled its 10-point green recovery plan. The GBP 12 billion stimulus package will benefit the green economy across the country, for instance going toward carbon capture, hydrogen, nuclear, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Prime Minister Boris Johnson estimates that the green recovery plan will create 250,000 new...Read more »

In a policy briefing published on November 12, the think tank E3G discusses Europe’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and efforts to align the recovery with the European Green Deal. The paper called Drafting Recovery Plans for a Resilient and Green Economy emphasizes that national governments should carefully plan their recovery packages to make...Read more »

According to a new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), green upgrades to homes in the North of England could foster a sustainable recovery by creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving down emissions. The think tank analyzed the effects of retrofitting millions of homes with energy efficiency measures, such as...Read more »

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) launched two programs to boost green finance and improve value chains, aiming to foster a green recovery of the Egyptian economy. Working with the EBRD’s local partner banks, the programs cumulatively worth EUR 220 million will offer...Read more »

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a USD 23.1 million grant towards strengthening the climate resilience of Mongolian herder communities. The project aims to enhance climate-informed natural resources management and sustainable livestock practices, building on traditional cooperative approaches among herders. It will also introduce innovative technologies for the traceability of sustainably sourced livestock products and...Read more »

On November 9, 2020, the British Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled green finance plans, proposing to issue the United Kingdom’s first sovereign green bond in 2021 and make climate risk disclosure mandatory for listed major companies from 2025. In a statement to parliament, Sunak said about the green bonds: “This will be the first in a...Read more »

On November 5, 2020, an England-wide nature restoration initiative was launched. It aims to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change, and to help people reconnect with the natural world. Led by Natural England, the Nature Recovery Network (NRN) Delivery Partnership brings together representatives from over 600 organizations, such as RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Link, and...Read more »

The Government of the United Kingdom announced GBP 134 million in cleantech funding on November 4, 2020. The investments are part of the country’s green recovery efforts and aim to help clean growth projects develop new technologies, create new jobs, drive productivity, and tackle climate change.  The GBP 134 million comes from the United Kingdom’s Sustainable...Read more »

On October 30, 2020, the South Africa National Department for Cooperative Governance, World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, and the Coalition for Urban Transitions announced a new partnership. It will support a green, resilient, and equitable COVID-19 recovery for cities in South Africa while focusing on implementing the country’s Integrated Urban Development...Read more »

On October 30, 2020, The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it would collaborate with the Kenyan government to offer aid to over 24,000 families affected by the pandemic in Mombasa and Nairobi counties. This aid program receives contributions from US AID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. Before the lockdowns caused by COVID-19, Mombasa...Read more »

On October 28, 2020, the Scottish government released its Offshore Wind Policy Statement. The statement indicates that, in a green recovery effort, Scotland plans to scale up its wind energy generation capacity. The government intends to install hundreds of wind turbines off its coast, which will generate clean energy for more than 8 million homes....Read more »

On October 28, Nordic Prime Ministers announced their intention to encourage institutional investors to scale up green finance and investments. In a joint declaration, the Prime Ministers underlined that Nordic countries could and should take the lead on green recovery, pointed to the urgency of mobilizing private green investments, and stressed the interdependency of the...Read more »

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has announced the country will commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. During a speech to parliament on October 28, he reaffirmed plans for a Green New Deal and pledged to replace coal power generation with renewable energy. As part of the USD 37 billion Green New Deal, South Korea...Read more »

As of October 26, 2020, the European Union (EU) has allotted PHP 3.76 billion in grant funding to the Philippines under the Access to Sustainable Energy Programme. This grant will support sustainable recovery efforts in the Philippines, particularly within the energy sector. During a webinar held on October 22, 2020, the head of the EU...Read more »

In early October, the Spanish President Pedro Sánchez presented plans to invest EUR 72 billion in European funds over the next three years, aiming to create 800,000 jobs. The Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan addresses four key areas for a COVID-19 recovery: ecological transition, digitalization, gender equality, and social cohesion. The Spanish government expects the...Read more »

On October 22, 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq. The goal of the MoU is to spur progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, while focusing efforts on achieving environmental SDGs. One specific goal...Read more »

A World Resources Institute article posted on October 19, 2020, urges that a transition to renewable energy sources to address Southeast Asia’s energy demand will be the most sustainable path to post-pandemic recovery in the region. Southeast Asia’s strong reliance on fossil fuels has exacerbated the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and has contributed...Read more »

On October 14, the European Commission (EC) published its new Renovation Wave Strategy to improve the energy performance of buildings. It aims to double renovation rates in the next 10 years while ensuring that renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. According to the EC, 35 million buildings could be renovated and up to...Read more »

On September 28, the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) launched eight innovative finance solutions designed to channel private resources to climate action in developing economies. The instruments pay attention to supporting the most vulnerable populations during and after the pandemic while building long-term resilience. The finance instruments will support nature-based solutions as well...Read more »

In September 2020, The Guardian reported that a majority of people across Britain supports an ambitious transformation of the United Kingdom into a greener, fairer, and more equal society. The assessment is based on an extensive inquiries by a cross-party group of MPs, which involved over 55,000 people through representative polls, workshops, and telephone conversations....Read more »

On September 10, 2020, the Spanish authorities announced EUR 181 million in spending on renewable energy projects. The investments are meant to boost a clean economic recovery by creating employment and cutting carbon emissions. The financial support will benefit seven regions across the country; while a majority is earmarked for Andalucía, funding is also provided...Read more »

The British government has launched its GBP 40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund, supporting up to 5,000 jobs in areas such as tree planting and nature conservation.  Environmental groups can now apply for grants worth GBP 50,000 to GBP 5 million. The fund is aimed at labour-intensive projects that deliver nature-based solutions to climate change...Read more »

On September 2, 2020, the Portuguese government launched a new energy-efficiency program. The Programa de Apoio Edifícios mais Sustentáveis includes various incentives to promote the energy efficiency of buildings and their decarbonization and has a total volume of EUR 4.5 million (EUR 1.75 million in 2020 and EUR 2.75 million in 2021). Several types of...Read more »

In August 2020, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published a brochure informing countries about sustainable recovery opportunities. Apart from presenting the central reasons for a green recovery, the document, called A Pathway to a Low-Carbon and Resilient Future, also entails three items that could help decision-makers design such programs: It lists possible low-carbon and resilience-enhancing...Read more »

On September 3, 2020, the French government unveiled details about the country’s new EUR 100 billion economic stimulus package. It is meant to increase the competitiveness of the French economy, boost jobs, and green the economy. One third of the stimulus package, which amounts to 4% of the GDP, is allocated to green measures. According...Read more »

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has restructured its financing plan for Bangladesh to help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) for 2021 to 2023, which was published in August, includes USD 5.28 billion in loans. A major part of the funds (USD 2.39 billion) will be disbursed in...Read more »

On August 28, 2020, the Scottish Government proposed the key missions for the new Scottish National Investment Bank. The Bank is supposed to support Scotland’s economic recovery by creating inclusive, long-term economic growth based on three missions: Fostering a just transition to net-zero emissions by 2045 (primary mission).Creation of opportunities and reduction of inequalities.Usage of...Read more »

The UN Economic Commission for Africa and the Government of Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 13, 2020, kicking off a USD 3.6 million project on nature-based solutions for water resources infrastructure and community resilience in Ethiopia. The project is part of the Ethiopian Government’s Green Legacy initiative and serves as the official...Read more »

On August 27, 2020, partners of the U.K. Ignition project launched the report Nature-Based Solutions to the Climate Emergency: The Benefits to Business and Society. The project’s aim is to develop innovative financing solutions for investments in Greater Manchester’s natural environment, helping the city to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The report presents...Read more »

Singapore President Halimah Yacob revealed plans for the country’s green recovery during the opening of the nation’s 14th Parliament on August 24, 2020. She announced major efforts to foster sustainable growth while improving social safety nets and education. The government plans to “push for green financing and sustainable infrastructure development across the region, to ride...Read more »

Bloomberg Green reported on August 24, 2020, that Bangladesh is expecting the World Bank to approve USD 2 billion in loans to support its ambitious climate adaptation plan, with the first installment planned for the beginning of next year. The funds would be used to implement the Delta Plan 100, which aims to minimize damages...Read more »

According to an article published by Jakarta Post on August 21, 2020, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to double its loan commitments to Indonesia in order to support the country’s economic recovery. In previous years, Indonesia received between USD 1 billion and USD 2 billion annually, mainly for energy-related infrastructure projects. ADB Country...Read more »

On August 21, 2020, the Scottish government announced the fast-tracking of a GBP 20 million low-carbon heat fund for social housing. Scotland’s energy minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “This £20 million Social Housing Net Zero Heat fund will deliver rapid investment to support both our energy and construction sectors whilst reducing bills for those who in...Read more »

On August 24, 2020, the German Government announced the launch of its first Green German Federal Securities in the second half of 2020. Up to EUR 11 billion is expected to be issued through these financing instruments in the coming months. Dr. Jörg Kukies, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance, explained: “From now...Read more »

On August 14, 2020, Reuters reported on Nairobi’s increased efforts to expand green infrastructure. The article highlights how such investments address challenges posed by the pandemic and the climate crisis. The Kenyan capital is improving the protection and quality of green spaces, especially along the Nairobi River, while supporting people in need. In March, the...Read more »

ING published a report on August 11, 2020, about national recovery and stimulus spending in the Asia-Pacific region. The analysis highlights that most countries in the region, with the exception of New Zealand and Singapore, have hardly included any green stimulus measures in their economic recovery packages. Notably, the report presents data that demonstrate that...Read more »

On August 6, 2020, the World Bank approved USD 250 million in International Development Association (IDA) credit and grants for Niger. The funds are supposed to help the West African country to develop its human capital and to address challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new funding is part of a program series targeted...Read more »

The Senegalese government issued a decree at the beginning of August that exempts 22 different renewable energy equipment types from the value-added tax (VAT). Renewable energy production technologies targeted by this exemption are wind farms, biogas production facilities, solar photovoltaic, and a range of other solar-powered technologies, such as solar water heaters, solar lamp kits,...Read more »

The Department for Transport in England announced a second recovery package for bus and light rail operators on August 8, 2020. The GBP 256 million package supports public transport operators as they continue to cope with reduced passenger numbers and hence lower revenues compared to pre COVID-19 levels while being asked to increase service frequency...Read more »

On August 5, 2020, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced it was directing EUR 300 million toward the COVID-19 response and recovery in African nations. The funding is part of the EIB Team Europe Initiative, designed to help the most vulnerable and exposed countries respond to the immediate health crisis, mitigate social and economic impacts,...Read more »

The Rocky Mountain Institute, RMI India and NITI Aayog have just released a report on how a green recovery of India’s energy sector could be realized. The report identifies opportunities for the country to boost the energy transition, building a clean, resilient, and low-cost energy future for India. It also discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic...Read more »

The Green for Growth Fund, an impact investment fund targeted at mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable economic growth in various countries, has announced on 05. August to provide a top-up loan to Banque du Caire in Egypt. The additional USD 15 million will support financing energy efficiency and resource efficiency measures of small and...Read more »

In August, the UK Government released more details about the new £2 billion Green Homes Grant which will be launched at the end of September. Through the fund, about 600,000 homeowners in England can receive up to £10,000 to install insulation, heat pumps and draft proofing in their homes. By covering up to two-thirds of...Read more »

On August 3, 2020, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced the financing of nearly 40 projects in Barcelona that serve multiple objectives for the city. On the one hand, the projects contribute to the climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts of the city; on the other hand, they create jobs and enhance social inclusion. Therefore,...Read more »

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the London Recovery Board announced a GBP 1.5 billion Infrastructure Investment Package on July 29, 2020, that aims to recover the local economy, creating jobs and reducing London’s carbon and water footprints. The specific projects and corresponding budget allocations are yet to be defined. Projects will be implemented together with...Read more »

The Autonomous Province of Trento has signed an agreement for EUR 300 million in financing from the European Investment Bank to distribute loans to municipalities and public entities in need of funding for a sustainable recovery from the pandemic. The agreement was signed on July 21, 2020, and an initial tranche of EUR 160 million...Read more »

On July 22, 2020, the British government announced a GBP 350 million budget to fund the decarbonization of heavy industry and the construction, transportation, and aviation sectors. This green recovery spending is earmarked to support the U.K.’s target to reach the net-zero target by 2050 and advance green innovation. The press release provides details about...Read more »

In this article, Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Dona Bertarelli, UNCTAD’s new Special Adviser for the Blue Economy, call for a sustainable blue economic recovery and describe what that could look like. The health of the oceans is in steep decline. A natural resource so crucial...Read more »

On July 22, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced a partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to assist members hard hit by COVID-19. ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and GCF Executive Director Yannick Glemarec met to identify opportunities to help ADB members confronting the pandemic crisis achieve low-carbon and climate-resilient recoveries. They agreed to build...Read more »

On July 21, the heads of state or government of the 27 European Union (EU) member states, together with the European Council President and the President of the European Commission, reached an agreement on a EUR 1.074 billion long-term budget and a EUR 750 billion COVID-19 recovery fund after a marathon summit. This was the...Read more »

On July 17, 2020, West Berkshire Council issued the U.K.’s first local government green bond using the crowd investment platform Abundance. This innovative financing solution is called Community Municipal Investment and targets local citizens to become investors for green projects in their own municipalities. Within a week, GBP 300,000 of the GBP 1 million target...Read more »

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), alongside several partners in the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP), developed a set of ten principles for post-COVID-19 recovery focusing on investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The ‘Principles for Recovery’ provide a framework for decision making on infrastructure spending for post-COVID-19 recovery and stimulus packages. The Principles call for decisions...Read more »

On 15. July 2020 the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved EUR 16.6 billion of new financing, of which EUR 10.2 billion will be invested for COVID-19 related recovery projects. Investments are earmarked for improving public health services and adapting other public services institutions across several European countries to respond better to the pandemic. Credit lines...Read more »

The South Korean Government announced a Green New Deal on July 14, 2020, worth approximately KRW 114 trillion (USD 94.5 billion), which is meant to be invested over the course of the next years to help the country’s economy to recover from the COVID-19-related recession. The foreseen government spending is targeted at creating 1.9 million...Read more »

On July 15, the World Economic Forum released a new report on the need to address the future of nature, in addition to climate change, in a post-COVID-19 recovery. The report highlights that a business-as-usual approach has no future. In addition to fighting climate change, three systems need to undergo a fundamental transformation to address...Read more »

On June 26, 2020, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its member states, announced to invest EUR 43.5 million to finance four 50-megawatt peak (MWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Andalusia, Spain. These plants are also called the Cabrera Solar Project. Emma Navarro, EIB Vice President responsible...Read more »

The UK Treasury has now published the foundations of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Summer Economic Update for a green recovery. Of the GBP 3 billion “green” package that was announced on July 6, 2020, GBP 1 billion will be made to retrofit public sector buildings such as schools and social housing, making them less carbon intensive....Read more »

While the European Commission’s latest forecast expects Ireland’s economy to shrink by 8.5% this year, the Irish economy is reopening faster than planned. On July 2, 2020 the Bank of Ireland outlined its plan to support the country’s economic recovery after COVID-19, which focuses on homebuilding, green investment, and local businesses. The Bank aims to...Read more »

After rail companies have already received bailouts worth £ 3.5 billion over the past few months of the COVID-19 recovery phase, signals increase that the railway system in Britain will be nationalised as reported on 09th July, 2020. The Office for National Statistics published a review that suggests counting the debt of railway operators on...Read more »

The FT reports on 8 July 2020 that Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, signaled in a recent interview that the ECB’s EUR 2.8 trillion asset purchase scheme could be deployed following green policy objectives: “I want to explore every avenue available in order to combat climate change”. This would make the ECB the first...Read more »

On July 2020, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that Ghana is undertaking a National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process, in which it seeks to improve its resilience to climate change and its impacts over the next 60 years. Its NAP process has been supported by the NAP Global Network since 2018. By developing anticipated climate...Read more »

On June 30th 2020, the European Union (EU) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced a total grant package of EUR 61.3 million to be provided for green and climate resilient investments in Egypt, Morocco and the countries of the Eastern Partnership. By allocating grants to energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate...Read more »

On 30th June 2020, the UK parliament passed new road transport legislation that will allow rentable e-scooters on streets from July 4th onwards. The use of privately owned e-scooters remains however illegal on public roads. The new rules will allow local authorities and administrations in the UK to deploy and promote e-scooter sharing schemes. A...Read more »

Austrian Airlines received a substantial bailout package of EUR 600 million, comprised of EUR 150 million state aid, EUR 300 bank loans to be repaid by 2026 and EUR 150 million equity capital provided by Lufthansa. This bailout package is tied to several carbon performance targets, which the airline agreed to on June 8th, 2020....Read more »

The FT reports on 29 June 2020 that Angela Merkel expressed her optimism on reaching an agreement on the EU’s EUR 750 billion post-coronavirus recovery fund. They have been disagreements over the size of the fund, the proportion of loans vs grants provided by the fund, when repayments should start for the loan portion and...Read more »

In a paper published on June 29th, 2020 the Scottish Government proposed and outlined ten guiding principles to the UK Government on how to steer an economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. The principles lay a strong emphasis on a sustainable economic recovery. The proposed stimulus and policy measures aim at reducing...Read more »

Environmental Finance reports on 08 June 2020 that Ninety One, an asset manager, recently launched a COVID-19 recovery impact fund in South Africa. This is another example where private sources of financing are used for recovery measures. The fund will have a portfolio of senior debt, subordinated debt, preferred equity, listed equity and private equity....Read more »

Reuters reports on 10 June 2020 that the European Central Bank is looking into setting up a “bad bank” for the billions of unpaid loans caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One structure under consideration would involve the European Stability Mechanism providing guarantees to the bad bank, which would issue bonds to commercial banks in exchange...Read more »

Germany has recently announced ambitious stimulus measures to support its economy. The FT reports on 4 June 2020 that the announced measures include EUR 353 billion emergency aid, EUR 820 billion loan guarantees and EUR 130 billion worth of tax cuts. They are expected to be funded through increased government bond issues. After years of...Read more »

As a response to the economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to increase its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) by EUR 600 billion to EUR 1.35 trillion, reports the FT on 4 June 2020. The ECB also extended the life of PEPP from the end of 2020 to...Read more »

Zak Bentley from Infrastructure Investor emphasizes the importance of the EU’s Green Deal to be a facilitator of private investment into infrastructure. Investors are worried how the European Investment Bank will deploy this significant amount of stimulus funds, both on the debt and equity side, without effectively crowding them out.

On June 15, 2020, the Spanish Government announced a EUR 3.75 billion recovery package for the domestic automotive industry, of which 70% will be used to bailout companies in the automotive value chain. The remaining 30% includes measures for accelerating a sustainable transport sector in Spain, including the electrification of public transport, adjustment of rail...Read more »

Several of the 126 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are calling for debt relief, including for infrastructure projects that have been hit by negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A range of BRI projects, such as coal-fired power plants, hydropower plants, and oil palm plantations, has been criticized for their...Read more »

The German Government announced a new EUR 130 billion economic stimulus package on June 03, 2020. It includes several strong measures for stimulating a green recovery and fostering a low-carbon economy in Germany. While some critics emphasize that the new package still misses consistent incorporation of ambitious climate targets that would ensure a full alignment...Read more »

The Finnish Government announced a EUR 5.5 billion supplementary budget on June 02, 2020 to support the economic recovery in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. About a fourth of the recovery package is dedicated for developing the country’s railway and tramway infrastructure as well as to support public transport operators. Moreover, plans have been announced...Read more »

The risks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are increasing because of a loss of ecosystems and deforestation. This is why including nature-based solutions and green infrastructure in a sustainable recovery is essential, as reported by Business India on June 4, 2020.

On June 8, 2020, the World Trade Organization Secretariat published a report on trade-related developments in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in least-developed countries (LDCs). The economies of LDCs have been hit extra hard during this pandemic, as many rely on export-sensitive sectors that came to a near standstill (tourism, textiles, etc.), as well as...Read more »

On June 2, 2020, Pakistan Today reported on the World Bank’s USD 188 million in funding for the Government of Pakistan for disaster risk reduction and the restoration of the natural environment. This will strengthen Pakistan’s green economic stimulus recovery package.

South Korea’s ambition to implement a Green New Deal was already affirmed after the National Assembly elections mid-April. This Green Deal will be realized as a core strategy during the COVID-19 recovery as reported on May 29, 2020. It entails, among others, public investments into expanding renewable energy generation and greening the transport sector in...Read more »

On May 27, 2020, the European Commission (EC) announced its long-term recovery strategy, which will guide and support EU member states as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The EC proposes a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, of EUR 750 billion, which will be added to the multiannual (2021–2027) EU budget. The...Read more »

On October 1, 2020, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a plan to position the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) as an important vehicle for a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank will allocate CAD 10 billion within three years to projects that create 60,000 jobs and contribute to a green, low-carbon economy. Priority...Read more »

Political leaders from around the world have launched the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, committing to reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. Supported by more than 70 countries and several non-state actors, the pledge is meant to send a united signal to step up global ambition for biodiversity, nature, climate, and people. The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature...Read more »

On August 26, 2020, The Guardian reported the creation of a new joint venture that seeks to invest billions in natural capital around the world. HSBC Global Asset Management and Pollination, a climate advisory and investment firm, are forming the world’s largest investment firm dedicated to environmentally friendly projects beyond renewable energy. The plan is...Read more »

On July 29, 2020, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) published the results of a study that highlights the enormous job creation potential associated with a transition to a net-zero carbon economy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Even though such a transition would terminate around 7.5 million jobs in...Read more »

In June, E3G and the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program published a report on how climate-friendly cooling can support a clean, resilient Covid-19 recovery. They identified six key opportunities for including sustainable cooling solutions in stimulus packages that can create jobs, reduce emissions, secure the supply chains of medical care products and food, and boost the...Read more »

The Inter-American Development Bank supports Guatemala under its REDD+ framework to scale its good practices on sustainable forest management and agriculture. The management of the cardamom value chain in Guatemala is an example of how to make agriculture more resilient in a post-COVID-19 recovery. It is also exemplary in its positive social impact, especially by...Read more »