How do we push forward a Green Recovery in a post-COVID world?

By Shaun Hurrell

How can we reboot the global economy in a way that transitions us to a sustainable future? BirdLife has launched a new Green Recovery Webinar Series that convenes global leaders from multilateral, business and youth sectors to tackle this question and aims to increase momentum towards an environmentally-friendly recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

In addition to the horrific loss of life resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, there have also been enormous economic costs. Governments are responding, and trillions of dollars are now on the table to kick-start the world’s economy. This is the highest level of financial support seen during peacetime, but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use these stimulus packages to incentivise a more sustainable, fair and green economic model: one that puts nature at its heart.

Held on 1 July 2020, the first webinar convened leading figures in multilateral organisations from Latin America, Asia and Europe. Guest speakers Carlos Manuel Rodríguez (Global Environment Facility), Woochong Um (Asian Development Bank), and Daniel Calleja-Crespo (European Commission) enlightened us on the opportunities and challenges of using COVID-19 recovery funds as the starting point for a greener future.

Over 500 people registered for the webinar, and over 300 attended live, with scores of interesting questions from the public. If you missed it, you can watch it below.
Summary key messages and follow-ups to unanswered questions will be available soon, but until then, be sure to save the date for the next instalment of the Green Recovery Webinar Series on 30th July.

  • Introductory presentation & closing remarks, Patricia Zurita (CEO – BirdLife International)
  • 13:20 – Carlos Manuel Rodríguez (Incoming CEO – Global Environment Facility)
  • 26:09 – Woochong Um (Director General, Sustainable Development & Climate Change – Asian Development Bank)
  • 35:15 – Daniel Calleja-Crespo (Director General, Environment – European Commission)
  • 49:16 – Q&A discussion moderated by Braulio Dias (BirdLife Council Chairman and previous Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity)