How governments 'built back worse' from Covid-19

Cecilia Keating
clock • 3 min read
How governments 'built back worse' from Covid-19

University of Oxford research highlights just 10 per cent of Covid-19 recovery spend went towards schemes that boosted climate resilience

'Build back better' was a common refrain adopted by governments and campaigners alike in the first phase of the covid pandemic, amid hopes the vast sums unlocked by governments to help businesses and communities...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

Could the revamped Treasury Green Book turbocharge green investment?

Could the revamped Treasury Green Book turbocharge green investment?

New guidance shaping government spending decisions requires Ministers to consider environmental principles, climate and biodiversity goals, and future climate resilience

James Murray
clock 09 February 2026 • 7 min read
'The transition will lead to savings overall': CCC underscores affordability of net zero goals

'The transition will lead to savings overall': CCC underscores affordability of net zero goals

Committee reiterates how delivering on net zero target is expected to result in costs equivalent to just 0.2 per cent of GDP, while unlocking multiple long-term benefits

James Murray
clock 04 February 2026 • 5 min read
Defra reveals UK's first plan for tackling 'forever chemicals'

Defra reveals UK's first plan for tackling 'forever chemicals'

Strategy promises to consult on PFAS drinking water limits and develop safer alternatives for harmful everyday materials

Stuart Stone
clock 03 February 2026 • 4 min read