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PT_BR 
The world's cities are positioned to lead a sustainable economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, but only if federal governments spend stimulus funds wisely.
This is the main discovery of the report released by BNEF (BloombergNEF) and C40 Cities, which highlights city-level achievements in reducing emissions that are ready to be “copied and pasted” across hundreds of other jurisdictions globally with the right support.
Among G7 countries alone, the survey identified US$ 267 billion in stimulus funds that could be used immediately to boost a green recovery, with emphasis on the EU (European Union) – establishing US$ 145 billion.
The research highlights the successes achieved in eight key pathways to decarbonization, including transport, buildings and energy consumption. In each of them, cities are providing examples of how to recover from recession while simultaneously promoting climate action, creating jobs and improving public health.
According to BNEF, best practices for municipalities, based on these case studies, include targeting job creation to key local green sectors and connecting and aligning incentives at the national level to decarbonize.
“Cities have a unique opportunity to help lead our global economic recovery, while also fighting another crisis that is already here: climate change,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and UN special envoy for Ambitions and Climate Solutions.
“But they can’t do it alone. It is critical that national governments work hand in hand to invest in and implement the climate solutions that will help build strong economies and create good jobs now,” he added.
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BloombergNEF highlighted that as national stimulus shifts from liquidity support to targeted industry and labor market recovery policies, governments must support cities directly.
The report further noted that municipalities can quickly and effectively leverage funds to achieve climate, health and jobs goals, and are well positioned to access incentive funds in three main ways: direct allocation to local budgets, targeted application to certain projects (e.g. public transport improvements or job training) and encouraging local residents and businesses to apply for direct grants.
European countries, for example, are already leading the way in delivering stimulus aligned with a green and fair recovery. Italy, France and Germany account for 54% of the G7 stimuli aligned with research paths for a sustainable recovery. “C40 mayors have been at the forefront of providing science-based political leadership to tackle the climate crisis and achieve a green and just recovery from the pandemic,” commented Mark Watts, C40 executive director.
“This report demonstrates that if national stimulus funding is supported everywhere, as the European Union is doing, the leadership of a pioneering municipality could kickstart a broader global transformation,” he said.
For Watts, by investing and regulating to drive progress in low-carbon public transport, retrofitting buildings, expanding clean electricity and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, cities can serve as key pathways out of the pandemic and climate emergency. .
“Municipalities can serve as test laboratories for new initiatives that have a real impact,” highlighted Emma Champion, associate at BloombergNEF and lead author of the study. “National governments then have the power to help expand these ideas, especially if they make the necessary funds available,” he concluded.
