Executive Summary
The international community stands at a critical juncture, facing dual global crises of immense
proportions: COVID-19 and Climate Change. In less than a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has
disrupted billions of lives and livelihoods with unprecedented speed and ferocity. The pandemic’s
economic and social effects have compounded Climate Change impacts, which have been
intensifying over time, especially in the last two decades. The poor and vulnerable have been hit
especially hard, even as they have also borne the brunt of regional crises such as natural disasters
and violent conflict; poverty reduction and shared prosperity have suffered their worst setback in
decades. Exceptional and urgent global action must tackle the combined impact of cascading
crises while adapting to post-pandemic realities. Crisis response provides an opportunity to
support green, resilient and inclusive recovery that tackles rising poverty and deepening inequality
while addressing both the immediate devastation wrought by COVID-19 and the longer-term
challenge of Climate Change.