Publication: Green Public Works: Leveraging Public Works to Address Climate and Environmental Challenges
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2025-11-30
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2025-12-09
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As climate and environmental challenges increasingly threaten livelihoods worldwide, some countries are turning to public works programs (PWPs) to confront them. This has given rise to “green public works”—PWPs that combine social assistance with environmental and climate objectives, such as protecting ecosystems and strengthening household and community resilience. Drawing on a review of twelve green PWPs, this note outlines their innovative features, including new types of assets and activities such as water infrastructure upgrades, protection against natural disasters and ecosystems restoration. It concludes by highlighting the benefits and challenges of green PWPs and ways to address them.
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“Costella, Cecilia; Okamura, Yuko; Urteaga, Emilio; Shalash, Nada. 2025. Green Public Works: Leveraging Public Works to Address Climate and Environmental Challenges. Social Protection & Jobs Policy & Technical Note; No. 26-03. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/44058 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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