Confronted with a COVID-19 health crisis that has caused a global social and economic shock, public authorities face a threefold dilemma: mobilize the health system to save lives; safeguard the economy to protect incomes and jobs; and negotiate a recovery strategy that will lead towards a more resilient society.
Following the initial focus that must be on overcoming the health emergency itself, actions that contribute to climate goals can be an effective part of improving both the economy and the resilience of our society. Today, the European Union and countries around the world are adopting major economic support programs.
In this report, I4CE proposes a set of actions based on a quantified analysis for France across seven sectors that are covered by the National Low-Carbon Strategy (Stratégie Nationale Bas-Carbone, SNBC). I4CE’s proposal calls for a public finance package of 7 billion euros per year that is estimated to trigger 19 billion euros of additional public and private investment. Altogether, this package would contribute to the economic recovery post-crisis, while simultaneously reinforcing our society against future shocks without reducing France’s contribution to international climate goals.