Sep. 9th, 2020

A Green and Just Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted every aspect of our lives. The pandemic has laid bare the interconnectedness of the global economic and ecological crises. Uncontrolled resource extraction, deforestation, infrastructure development and the exploitation of wild species have created perfect conditions for the spillover of diseases. We are seeing deep fissures in our social safety net and the results of chronic underinvestment in vulnerable communities.

We cannot go back to the way things were. There is no returning to ‘normal’. But we do have an opportunity now to contribute to a more resilient and equitable society that upholds human rights and respects ecological integrity. As the government prepares its recovery plans, we can urge them to make investments that promote the integrity of our planet, people’s access to basic human rights and the dignity of all peoples.

KAIROS endorses the Principles for a Just Recovery and has joined an informal alliance of more than 300 national and local civil society groups to demand that recovery plans move us toward a more equitable and resilient future for all:

Put people’s health and wellbeing first
Strengthen the social safety net and provide relief directly to people
Prioritize the needs of workers and communities
Build resilience to prevent future crises
Build solidarity and equity across communities, generations, and borders
Uphold Indigenous rights and work in partnership with Indigenous peoples

Today we learn more about these principles and KAIROS’ recommendations for building a more equitable, resilient and sustainable post-pandemic society.

TODAY’S RESOURCES

TODAY’S ACTION

Today’s action is to watch a webinar – a great way to learn while remaining physically distanced! We offer some suggestions below and invite you to register for the Just Transition Learning Webinar hosted by the Global Catholic Climate Movement next Wednesday, September 16.