The Green Desk - a Green Covid19 Response: March 31, 2020

With finance minister Grant Robertson announcing billions of dollars to combat the effects of Covid-19 and the subsequent recession, some have seen this as an opportunity to change the way live, work and interact with our planet. Bronwyn spoke to Amanda Larsson from Greenpeace about their proposed Green Covid Response, which urges the government to invest this money into clean transformative industries and uplifting marginalised communities.

No doubt you have seen the stories about the positive impacts on the climate as a result of a world under rāhui. Whether it be pollution levels in New York reduced by nearly 50%, or a 40% drop in coal use by China's six largest power plants, the global pandemic has curbed carbon emissions in ways that climate activists have been trying unsuccessfully to do for decades. However in the long term, the International Energy Agency warns that Covid-19 could cause a slowdown in world’s clean energy transition. Bronwyn began by asking Amanda how we can ensure pollution levels don't just bounce back once the pandemic is over.

There is currently an online petition calling for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to adopt the Green Covid Response, with a goal of 10,000 signatures.