Climate action must stay top of the global agenda as we emerge from COVID-19

The author contends that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the interconnectedness of human health and environmental stability, creating a unique window to 'rebuild' the global economy. While there is a risk that short-term economic fixes will deprioritize climate goals, the document advocates for the use of green stimulus packages, sustainable procurement, and political leadership to align economic recovery with the 1.5 °C temperature rise target of the Paris Agreement.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the deep connection between human health and the environment, with evidence suggesting that people in more polluted areas are more severely affected by the virus and that climate change could cause 500,000 adult deaths by 2050.
• There is a significant risk that the economic aftermath of the pandemic will lead stakeholders to prioritize short-term recovery over long-term climate and circular economy goals, potentially diverting sustainability funds and delaying climate negotiations.
• The author proposes specific 'green stimulus' measures, such as reforming procurement to focus on total cost of ownership rather than lowest initial cost, aligning European legislation on waste and chemicals to boost recycling, and promoting circular ownership models.
• The document asserts that the current crisis is a chance to apply the resourcefulness used to fight COVID-19 toward 'flattening the emissions curve' to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5 °C target.

APA

Metzke, R. (2020). Climate action must stay top of the global agenda as we emerge from COVID-19. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-action-top-global-agenda-covid-19/

Chicago

Metzke, Robert. Climate action must stay top of the global agenda as we emerge from COVID-19. World Economic Forum, 2020. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-action-top-global-agenda-covid-19/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Metzke |first1=Robert |title=Climate action must stay top of the global agenda as we emerge from COVID-19 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=22 May 2020 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-action-top-global-agenda-covid-19/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{metzke2020climate, author = {Metzke, Robert}, title = {{Climate action must stay top of the global agenda as we emerge from COVID-19}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-action-top-global-agenda-covid-19/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }