Charities put pressure on PM for a green economic recovery

The Climate Coalition and 57 charities, including WWF and Oxfam, have sent a letter to Boris Johnson urgently asking him to commit to a green economic recovery plan.

The letter which was sent today (June 15) outlines a seven-point plan that will ensure that the UK meets the targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

These points include prioritising investment, training and reskilling in renewable energy, accelerating private sector investment in the net-zero transition, investing in the transition of UK land and farming to deliver benefits for nature, climate and human health, and engaging with the international community to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

The letter says that: ‘The actions taken now to respond to the pandemic and rebuild our economies will determine whether humanity succeeds in our goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, halt and reverse the decline of nature and eradicate poverty.’

With the UK due to host COP26 next year, the charities ask the Prime Minister to deliver a strong lead on climate action to set a precedent to the rest of the world.

Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF, said: ‘We know a green recovery makes economic sense and is supported here in the UK and overseas by leading businesses, academics, ministers, and health representatives. What we urgently need to see now, and post-pandemic, is a commitment from Government on turning this into action.

‘Investing in a green recovery could support at least 210,000 green jobs across the country and bring benefits of a massive £90 billion a year to the UK economy.

‘The government must adopt a test to ensure any recovery package helps to build economic resilience and meet our commitments to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050.’

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