Killing Two Birds with One Stone? Green Dead Ends and Ways Out of the COVID-19 Crisis

Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann

doi:10.1007/s10640-020-00443-y

Killing Two Birds with One Stone? Green Dead Ends and Ways Out of the COVID-19 Crisis

Environ Resour Econ (Dordr). 2020 Jul 8:1-5. doi: 10.1007/s10640-020-00443-y. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Erik Gawel^{1

2}, Paul Lehmann^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
² University of Leipzig, Ritterstr. 12, 04109 Leipzig, Germany.

Abstract

The coronavirus crisis has opened up a window of opportunity for transformation. This should be used without getting off the regulatory track. Green recovery programs must not be reduced to a mere competition for green subsidies. Abandoning barriers to green investments and imposing a carbon price are equally important. Where economically sensible, green subsidies should contribute both to stabilizing the economy and mitigating climate change. Moreover, smart green recovery programs may contribute to raising revenues for the additionally necessary public expenditures.

Keywords: Climate change; Coronavirus; Recovery; Subsidies.