The Recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity for a Sustainable and Resilient World

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global health crisis with severe social and economic effects, formulating a converging situation with the climate change, the biodiversity collapse, the subsequent war in Ukraine and the macroeconomic recession. This combination of challenges forms an unprecedented opportunity for addressing them systemically, achieving multiple co-benefits under the broader sustainability context: Alleviating poverty and hunger, inequality, and building resilient societies, based on inclusiveness and strong finance, is the topic of this paper. We explain the concept of this “green” recovery, the pathways to achieve it, the key areas-sectors for transformation, and outline the funding opportunities and necessary changes for its globally sustainable implementation. This paper reflects the work of global experts on the field, joined after the Lancet Commissioned Report on the Recovery from COVID-19, with a strong focus on science-based policy, global cooperation, and international finance.