thinkstep-anz together with 155 leading companies worldwide advocate for governments to prioritise climate action
aligned with the Paris Agreement in their economic recovery plans. Released earlier today, the aptly named ‘Recover
Better’ statement is organised by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the UN Global Compact and the We Mean
Business coalition. It asks businesses and governments to pair their economic response to Covid-19 with ambitious
climate action to recover better together.
The message and the science behind it are clear: we can no longer afford to choose between human health or planetary
health. The two are inextricably linked. Covid-19 is socially devastating, disrupts supply chains and profoundly deepens
inequalities.
“We can’t afford trade-offs between economic recovery, social well-being and environmental protection based on the
latest climate science. We must tackle all three.” says Barbara Nebel, CEO thinkstep-anz. “Economic support packages
must be used to support net-zero carbon and regenerative developments.”
The path outlined by the largest ever UN-backed, CEO-led climate advocacy effort not only gives hope for recovering the
planet’s health, but also provides an opportunity to refresh the economy. Suggested policies and spending measures
include the delivery of net-zero-carbon infrastructure and buildings, investing in nature-based climate solutions,
advancing the delivery of 100% clean power, and enabling clean mobility for all. Together these can accelerate a just
transition to an inclusive, resilient, and net-zero-carbon economy.
A report from the New Climate Economy shows that shifting to a low-carbon economy could create 65 million new jobs by
2030, and a growth opportunity of US$26 trillion.
The great news is that many of the solutions to bring forth a zero-carbon future already exist; for New Zealand, this
includes recommendations on decarbonising the transport sector by 90% and embodied carbon in buildings over 40%, as
outlined in thinkstep-anz’s transport and built environment reports.
thinkstep-anz is already on a 1.5°C trajectory with an approved science-based target and now calls on others to join the
efforts for a systemic shift to a net-zero-carbon and resilient economy.
Read the full “Recover Better” statement signed by 155 leading companies including Unilever, HP, Nestle, Salesforce, Vestas in the Science Based Targets
initiative and its business ambition for 1.5°C campaign.