The economic response to the coronavirus crisis should tackle global climate change too

The coronavirus crisis has prompted the biggest state intervention in the market in history. Around the world governments have earmarked more than $8tn (£6.4bn) in a bid to keep the global economy moving. The spread of the pandemic has shown the strength of investing in companies putting people and planet first. Green stocks have outperformed others by almost 8 per cent since the start of the crisis.

As world leaders look to the economic recovery, short-term carbon-intensive solutions are not the answer. Instead creating an economy where resources are only used if they are 100 per cent recyclable or reusable represents our best route to a better future.

Indeed, the European Commission estimates investing in a circular economy could create some 700,000 jobs by 2030 in Europe alone, invigorating sectors that will deliver long-term prosperity without trashing our natural world. A real circular economy could once and for all realise the vision of a world free from the connected problems of runaway climate change and the global-waste crisis.

Now more than ever before the future belongs to companies that work with nature, not against it. The economic response to the crisis must be executed in line with our global sustainability goals and put green stimulus measures front and centre.

Lucy Siegle, chair of the Real Circularity Coalition
George Monbiot, author and environmental activist
Alviina Alametsa MEP, Finland
Ernest Urtasun MEP, Spain
Prof Jeremy Faludi, department of design engineering, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
Prof James Elliott, materials science & metallurgy, University of Cambridge
Prof Raimund Bleischwitz, director, The Bartlett School of Environment Energy & Resource
Dr Nick Taylor Buck, faculty of science research manager, University of Sheffield
Bella Lack, ambassador, Born Free Foundation
Julie Anderson, global CEO, Plastics Oceans International, USA
Hugo Tagholm, chief executive, Surfers Against Sewage
Sally Uren, chief executive, Forum for the Future
Dr Becky Gates, founding director and trustee, Fidra
Caroline Lucas MP, Green, Brighton Pavilion
Barry Gardiner MP, Labour, Brent North
Ben Lake MP, Plaid Cymru, Ceredigion
Claire Hanna MP, Social Democrat and Labour, South Belfast
Claudia Beamish MSP, Scottish Labour, South Scotland
Prof Peter North, alternative economies, University of Liverpool
Dr Patrick Pomeroy, senior research scientist, school of biology, University of St Andrews
Ray Georgeson MBE, director, Ray Georgeson Resources
Prof Rupert Ormond, centre for marine biodiversity & biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Dr Oliver Bragg, geography and environmental science, school of social sciences, University of Dundee
Neil Garrick-Maidment FBNA, founder, The Seahorse Trust
Baroness Bakewell of Hardington, Liberal Democrat
Baroness Lister of Burtersett, Labour
Baroness Walmsley, Liberal Democrat
Lord Grantchester, Labour
The Rt Hon Lord Naseby PC, Conservative

I read the 4 June article from Ben Chapman on Nissan's warning to Sunderland that their factory would be unsustainable if a trade deal is not negotiated successfully with the EU.

Time is indeed running out as Britain has to request an extension to the transition arrangement by the end of June. Up till now the government, as customary, is strident in its decision that an extension will not be requested or agreed if indeed the EU offers one.

What is wrong with this kamikaze government, when the word on the ground is that this country has enough to worry about with its lacklustre and catch-up pandemic response to countenance a falling off the cliff scenario? I think it lives in a parallel universe. Members of the cabinet, who are subjugated shamefully to the party line, appear wilfully oblivious to what the actual public and businesses now want and justly demand.

I urge my government to please wake up and smell the coffee.

Judith A Daniels
Great Yarmouth

As the father of three daughters who are all teachers, I applaud those school managers who have had the good sense to delay the reopening of their schools. It was instructed by the government in a clearly political decision driven by the desire to get the economy running again, without regard to the health of teachers, support staff, pupils and parents.

It is obvious to anyone with half a brain that the R number is still much too high to allow such reopenings safely, and the abysmal launch of the track and trace system has done nothing to reduce the public’s perception that the pandemic is being disastrously managed by the prime minister and his advisers. Most scientists and medical experts are all suggesting that this premature opening of schools is bound to result in a spike in Covid-19 infections.

David Felton
Wistaston, Cheshire

The government’s new quarantine measures are about three months too late. As Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College has pointed out, thousands of infected people came into the UK in late February and early March. It’s shutting the stable door after that horse...

Andrew McLuskey
Ashford

Tom Peck was just brilliant yesterday. “Corridors, with countries that have low rates of infection? That’s not a corridor, it’s an escape hatch.” So true, so tragic; all you can do is laugh. “Shambolic” is not a big enough word to describe this government. Great material for Tom, but a disaster for everyone in the country.

Kevin Alderson
Boston Spa, Yorkshire

In my advancing years, I can accept that my hearing is not all it used to be. However, it seems to have deteriorated significantly recently. I was listening to Boris Johnson yesterday evening and I could have sworn I heard him say that he was “immensely proud” of his achievements in handling the current pandemic.

With the highest death rate in Europe, and one of the worst in the world – now approaching the number of civilians killed in the Second World War – and soon to be probably the only country to be banned from European travel, what exactly is he proud of? Other governments can rightly be proud of limiting deaths to tens or hundreds by acting quickly, all our government is good at is spin and misinformation. God help us when we are hit by the inevitable second peak of infection.

When Priti Patel, the home secretary, said ”we will not allow a small, reckless minority to endanger us all”, was she perhaps referring to the current cabinet?

Geoff Forward
Stirling