Global Dialogue on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis: Building Back Better Aligned to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement

This executive summary outlines a global dialogue on ensuring that the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It argues that the pandemic serves as a warning for the climate and biodiversity crises and advocates for a 'green and resilient recovery' that prioritizes people, nature-based solutions, and the phase-out of high-carbon industries.

• The COVID-19 pandemic is viewed as a precursor to the climate and biodiversity crises, demonstrating how systemic shocks disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and highlighting the link between human encroachment on natural systems and zoonotic pandemics.
• Global fiscal stimulus for COVID-19 recovery reached $11.8 trillion, but a significant portion is not aligned with sustainability. Approximately 30% of this stimulus is directed toward sectors with high environmental impact, and in 14 of 18 studied countries, spending with negative environmental impacts outweighs positive spending.
• National recovery responses vary widely: the European Union and Germany have integrated significant climate-friendly investments, while the United States provided $3 trillion in support with no consideration for sustainability. Other nations, such as China and India, show mixed results by funding both green energy and new coal infrastructure.
• A successful recovery requires a shift to 'transition thinking,' categorizing industries into those of the future to be accelerated (renewables, electric vehicles), those of the past to be phased out (coal), and those in transition (steel, aviation) that require transformation.
• The document emphasizes a 'One Health' approach to prevent future pandemics by restoring the barriers between humans and animals. It notes that 70% of new emerging diseases are zoonotic, and recovery should focus on protecting ecosystems and stopping illegal wildlife trade.
• Cities are identified as critical hubs for rapid decarbonization and resilience. The document suggests 'shovel-ready' projects such as building efficiency retrofits and public transport upgrades, while warning that the urban poor in informal settlements must be integrated into planning to avoid rooting vulnerability within city systems.
• Financial recovery for developing countries must include debt relief and restructuring to address climate vulnerability. The document suggests eliminating fossil fuel and unsustainable agricultural subsidies to fund green activities and proposes using 'resilience bonds' to mobilize finance.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Global Dialogue on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis: Building Back Better Aligned to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. https://files.wri.org/s3fs-public/uploads/bmu-wri-dialogue-summary.pdf

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Global Dialogue on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis: Building Back Better Aligned to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. n.d. https://files.wri.org/s3fs-public/uploads/bmu-wri-dialogue-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Global Dialogue on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis: Building Back Better Aligned to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement |url=https://files.wri.org/s3fs-public/uploads/bmu-wri-dialogue-summary.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendglobal, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Global Dialogue on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis: Building Back Better Aligned to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://files.wri.org/s3fs-public/uploads/bmu-wri-dialogue-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }