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FANTASTIC news everyone - @MikePMoffatt, the geniuses at @SP_Inst (and also me, for some reason) wrote a long article outlining a process and recommendations to answer the question:
How can our economic recovery be both green AND inclusive?
Thread/
https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/InclusiveGreenRecovery
How can our economic recovery be both green AND inclusive?
Thread/
https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/InclusiveGreenRecovery
TL;DR: It's smart economics to make a recovery green + inclusive, but it isn't easy. Luckily, a full recovery won't begin until we find a vaccine. Until then, governments need to set targets, collect data, design an accounting framework and remove barriers to work
For starters, every sub-trend in employment data is bad for equity right now. Job growth for men has been 2x faster than for women since May. Unemployment rates are way above average for racialized CADs. Youth unemployment is over 24%....
...Since June, 59% of job growth has been in PT work, meaning returns to work have been in jobs with lower security/earnings. Persons with disabilities have endured extreme hardship this year. None of this looks good for any vulnerable community.
These groups forced barriers to workforce participation beforehand, and they still face them now that the world is burning.
A recovery involves getting those most impacted back to work, and that means we need to work on overcoming these barriers or CAD won't get back to black.
A recovery involves getting those most impacted back to work, and that means we need to work on overcoming these barriers or CAD won't get back to black.
Also, on the topic of the world burning, the world is also actually burning. The capital and monetary costs are astounding.
A smart economic recovery therefore needs to take steps to avoid the steepest costs of climate change as well. https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wildfires-climate-change-1.5718461
A smart economic recovery therefore needs to take steps to avoid the steepest costs of climate change as well. https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wildfires-climate-change-1.5718461
So if we know what we need, why are we waiting?
Because the recovery hasn't stated yet. @MikePMoffatt and I wrote a piece this summer about how the pre-vaccine period will be a mountain climb of ups and downs, with the economy rebounding and dipping. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-we-arent-restarting-the-economy-were-climbing-a-mountain/
Because the recovery hasn't stated yet. @MikePMoffatt and I wrote a piece this summer about how the pre-vaccine period will be a mountain climb of ups and downs, with the economy rebounding and dipping. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-we-arent-restarting-the-economy-were-climbing-a-mountain/
That's a bummer for economic reasons, but does buy governments time to get this right. The pre-recovery period offers breathing room. And that's good, because making a recovery both green and inclusive is actually pretty hard.
Investment needs to be directed towards areas where it offers the greatest value. Data is needed to understand where service provision is needed. Goals are needed to show how inclusivity is being defined. Barriers need to be knocked down to avoid a he-covery to this she-cession
This understanding can be developed, and measures assessed, during the climb back to an economic normal.
This will allow for the development of a recovery package that can put into practice the principles this nation has pledged to advance when the time comes.
This will allow for the development of a recovery package that can put into practice the principles this nation has pledged to advance when the time comes.
We outline four big pillars to work on in the climb:
1-Set quantifiable goals for advancing principles.
2-Drive action locally to meet national targets.
3-Account for the full health benefits of policies/spending decisions.
4-Remove barriers to joining the workforce.
1-Set quantifiable goals for advancing principles.
2-Drive action locally to meet national targets.
3-Account for the full health benefits of policies/spending decisions.
4-Remove barriers to joining the workforce.
We then outline a bunch of recommendations for ideas during the recovery on how to support childcare, accessibility for persons with disabilities, youth, low-income earners, public transit and SMEs in a greener way.
Again, link here: https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/InclusiveGreenRecovery
Again, link here: https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/InclusiveGreenRecovery
This is not an easy thing to do. It will take forethought, targeting, strategic planning and creativity. But it is entirely possible - and is necessary - for a recovery package to do both.
You're welcome, Cabinet. Now go fix my country.
Fin/
You're welcome, Cabinet. Now go fix my country.
Fin/
