Do post-pandemic policies support a holistic green recovery? Evidence from three coastal regions

Governments and other organizations worldwide have promoted the idea of a “green recovery,” advocating that post-pandemic economic stimulus measures address environmental concerns such as climate change, biodiversity loss and socioeconomic inequalities. There is, however, little evidence on the extent to which adopted policies have sought to achieve these broader objectives. This article presents a comparative analysis of policies adopted in three coastal regions – Scotland (UK), northwest Germany and Massachusetts (United States). The analysis starts with the blue economy, which encompasses coastal and ocean-based activities such as fishing, shipping, and tourism, and has experienced a range of negative impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. We utilize a previously developed framework that identifies the four key pillars of green recovery – climate action and environmental, social, and economic sustainability – to assess the extent to which polices have supported green recovery holistically in the blue economy and beyond. The results show that policies addressing each of the green-recovery pillars exist across regions, and that the essential components of the green-recovery framework are also present, albeit with varying degrees of emphasis. There are, however, questions about the integration of these elements. This approach demonstrates an evidence-based process that could help policymakers identify how measures, even when enacted individually, can, when combined, constitute a comprehensive policy package that supports green recovery or development.