Three Ways the Coronavirus Is Shaping Sustainable Development

This statement from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines three primary themes regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global recovery will influence sustainable development: the necessity of resilience, the requirement for sustainable economic stimulus, and the magnification of global inequality.

• The pandemic has highlighted the critical need for resilience, defined as the capacity of human systems to "anticipate, cope, and adapt." This is particularly relevant to climate change adaptation, as further temperature increases are considered nearly certain, and failure to plan for these changes risks further tragedy.
• Economic stimulus and support packages implemented by governments must be designed to facilitate a transition to a more sustainable economy. The author argues that periods of low interest rates and high unemployment provide an opportunity for new low-carbon investments and infrastructure to avoid locking the world into a "high-carbon future."

APA

Florizone,, R. (2020). Three Ways the Coronavirus Is Shaping Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/three-ways-coronavirus-shaping-sustainable-development

Chicago

Florizone,, Richard. Three Ways the Coronavirus Is Shaping Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/three-ways-coronavirus-shaping-sustainable-development.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Florizone, |first1=Richard |title=Three Ways the Coronavirus Is Shaping Sustainable Development |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=30 March 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/three-ways-coronavirus-shaping-sustainable-development |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{florizone2020three, author = {Florizone,, Richard}, title = {{Three Ways the Coronavirus Is Shaping Sustainable Development}}, publisher = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/three-ways-coronavirus-shaping-sustainable-development}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }