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

The document argues that the COVID-19 crisis is a critical window to shift from 'snapshot to transition thinking,' urging governments to use stimulus packages to accelerate future technologies like renewable energy while phasing out fossil fuels. It highlights a concerning trend where approximately 30% of global fiscal stimulus is directed toward high-environmental-impact sectors, often without sustainability conditions. The report advocates for a 'One Health' approach to prevent future zoonotic pandemics by protecting biodiversity, and calls for the integration of informal workers and urban poor into city-level recovery planning. Key recommendations include the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of 'do no harm' standards for bailouts, and increased financial support and debt restructuring for developing countries to facilitate a just transition.

• Global fiscal stimulus to combat the pandemic-driven economic downturn reached $11.8 trillion, but significant portions are undermining climate goals. Approximately 30% of this stimulus is directed toward sectors with high environmental impact, often without sustainability conditions. In 14 of 18 countries analyzed by Vivid Economics, spending that negatively impacts the environment outweighs positive spending.
• Energy sector investments show a preference for polluting industries over clean energy. Among G20 nations, only six are committing more public money to clean energy than to polluting sectors. Overall, $204 billion has been pledged to fossil fuels, representing 52% of all energy sector commitments, while clean energy received 35%.
• National responses vary significantly: the European Union's stimulus plan and 2021-2027 budget allocate 30% for climate-friendly investments and include a $17.5 billion Just Transition Fund. Conversely, the United States announced approximately $3 trillion in support with no consideration for sustainability, providing targeted relief to oil and gas companies.
• The document advocates for a 'One Health' approach to address the link between ecosystem loss and zoonotic pandemics. It notes that 70% of new emerging diseases are zoonotic in origin, and the loss of ecosystem integrity increases the risk of disease spillovers by increasing contact with pathogens.
• Urban recovery must prioritize the most vulnerable to be effective. The report emphasizes that for billions of urban poor, public health guidelines like social distancing are impossible without adequate space and services, meaning vulnerability will remain rooted in city systems unless there is investment in slums and informal settlements.
• Financial mechanisms for a green recovery should include the elimination of fossil fuel and unsustainable agricultural subsidies. The decline in oil prices during the pandemic is identified as an opportunity to remove these subsidies without harming consumers, potentially redirecting funds toward health care, education, or a just transition.
• Developing countries require specific financial interventions to build back better, including debt restructuring and cancellation. Many of these nations were in debt distress prior to the pandemic, and the report argues that green recovery support should reflect the financial risks associated with climate vulnerability.

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} }