DHP 007 - From COVID to Climate, Building back better

Course Description

The threat of a zoonotic pandemic, and the threats of climate change are grey rhinos – know threats in plain sight begging the question, why are we not readied to respond. In this short course participants will explore the touchpoints between this pandemic and the climate crisis and what we can understand about our resilience, or lack thereof, essential to withstand impacts of climate change. We will explore in greater detail the shocks to energy system and what this means for the necessary energy transition. We will look at the challenges posed to food systems and how to ensure access to affordable and sustainable diets in the recovery. We will look at how to finance the transition to zero-net carbon economies and how recession in the global economy may impact the pace of progress. We will take stock of recovery packages around the world to examine different approaches taken and their implications for greater climate action.  Before the pandemic, diplomatically, 2020 was to be a year of raised climate ambition, with the UK and Italy in the lead in galvanizing an international coalition to that end. 2020 also marked the beginning of the final decade of action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We will explore what the strains to the international system posed by the pandemic mean for cooperation for climate mitigation and adaptation and what opportunities may exist, in the dislocation caused by the pandemic, to develop new means of cooperation.