In conversation with Axel van Trotsenburg, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a devastating health, economic and social crisis, while severely reducing momentum towards Sustainable Development Goals. Countries are at an important crossroads as they look to reset their economies and forge a path to a recovery that simultaneously tackles the climate and COVID crises. Growing impetus around addressing climate change will need the right policies and financial support for countries to properly harness the opportunities of a green low-carbon future.

Adding to that, the pandemic has not only exacerbated pre-existing inequalities between countries, but as they respond to the crisis, inequalities are exponentially rising. A good example is the vaccine roll out. Whilst the rapid development of vaccines offers all of us some hope, an equitable global roll out has proved a serious challenge.