In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, MPs are planning to scrutinise the government’s green economic recovery plans to establish whether they are still fit for purpose.
The government is set to face two separate inquiries into their current green economic plans by the Treasury and business department parliamentary select committees. These departments will question whether or not the government’s existing policies will help or hinder sustainable post-pandemic economic growth.
Following a report from parliament’s financial watchdog, which accused the government of an “astonishing” failure to plan for the economic impact of a possible flu-like pandemic, a new examination into their green recovery plans has been called into action.
This fresh investigation will focus primarily on whether the government’s existing plans for green finance, a decarbonised economy and a sustainable industrial strategy, are doing enough to help companies recover from the financial shock of the pandemic.
The government’s green spending plans have already been heavily criticised by green groups who have pointed out that the proposed £3bn budget to boost a potential green economic recovery falls far behind Germany’s £36bn investment and the French government’s £13bn plans.
