Investing in cities as part of COVID-19 recovery packages can help national governments create much needed economic security and jobs today, whilst making rapid strides towards a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive future tomorrow.

Cities have been at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they also offer an opportunity to accelerate the transition to a resilient, equitable and low-carbon future. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on cities as the confluence of people, economy and assets; when they stop working, so does the global economy. National government leadership and investment is critical to complement the green investments that mayors and local governments are making, or plan to make, within their urban recovery strategies to build a sustainable and resilient recovery.

Through seven priority areas for investment, national governments can yield substantial economic dividends, rapidly create and protect millions of jobs for vulnerable populations and deliver quick, durable and inclusive economic, health, and environmental benefits for their citizens, all whilst contributing to long-term urban resilience.

1. Green construction and retrofits
   Create low-carbon built environments where people will love to live
2. Clean mobility
   Promote clean and shared transport for connected, accessible cities
3. Renewable energy
   Invest in renewable energy generation and electrification for low-carbon cities
4. Active transport
   Foster pedestrian and cycling schemes for healthy, active citizens
5. Nature-based solutions
   Deliver green spaces that benefit citizens and their cities
6. Waste and resources
   Support workers and create a circular economy for clean resource-smart cities
7. Research and development (R&D) for clean technologies
   Foster a culture of green innovation for long-term benefits

The paper also includes three cross-cutting reforms to enhance the impact of the sectoral recommendations above:

1. Fiscal reforms to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and make it attractive for the private sector to invest in low-carbon and resilient infrastructure and services
2. Governance reforms that combine national strategies for cities backed up by robust plans to deliver economic and social development in cities in the context of the global health and climate emergencies
3. Financial reforms to ensure sufficient revenue for investment in sustainable urban infrastructure, increased collaboration with state and local governments, and reform of municipal financing systems.

The paper provides actionable content focused on the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of a green recovery. It is co-authored by prominent experts from a range of partner organisations:

• Manisha Gulati, Senior Advisor, Coalition for Urban Transitions
• Renilde Becqué, Senior Consultant, Coalition for Urban Transitions
• Nick Godfrey, Director, Coalition for Urban Transitions
• Aziza Akhmouch, Head of Division, Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Anton Cartwright, Economist, African Centre for Cities
• Jason Eis, Executive Director, Vivid Economics
• Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)
• Michael Jacobs, Professorial Fellow, Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute, University of Sheffield
• Robin King, Director of Knowledge Capture and Collaboration, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and Senior Advisor to the Coalition
• Philipp Rode, Executive Director, LSE Cities, London School of Economics and Political Science

The paper is funded by The Resilience Shift in support of its aims to accelerate a safe, sustainable and resilient future. It believes that national governments must not miss this unique opportunity to invest in a low carbon, resilient, and prosperous future for our urban centres as they shape their post-COVID-19 fiscal stimulus packages.