Financing Green Recovery

The second dialogue in the EMG Nexus Dialogue series Addressing COVID-19 for the Environment explored how public and private finance could support a greener, more inclusive and resilient economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bringing together experts from UNEP, UNEP Finance Initiative, UNCDF, UNDP's Biodiversity Finance Initiative, OECD, academia and the private sector, the dialogue examined lessons from previous economic crises and opportunities to align financial policies and investments with long-term environmental and sustainable development objectives.

Discussions highlighted the importance of green fiscal policies, carbon pricing, reforming environmentally harmful subsidies and mobilizing innovative financing mechanisms, including green bonds and nature-linked financial instruments. Participants also emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between governments, financial institutions and businesses, supported by greater transparency, environmental risk disclosure and common sustainability standards.

The dialogue underscored that financing a green recovery requires more than short-term stimulus measures. It calls for sustained policy reforms, long-term investment and closer alignment of public and private finance to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and resilient economy.