Are we building back better?

When: Wednesday, 10 March 2021 | 14:30h - 15:30h UK | 09:30h - 10:30h EST

Where: Online, register here

An online UN-Oxford panel discussion with leaders from key countries and international institutions.

“Are we building back better?” was a key moment, bringing together global leaders and international institutions, to debate progress, explore openings, and attempt to answer some of the major questions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch the event, which was broadcasted live, below.

The global economy contracted by nearly 4% in 2020. Internationally, more than two million people died, over 100 million were infected and many hundreds of millions thrown out of work or reduced to poverty.  And three planetary crises loom: climate instability, nature loss, and increasing levels of pollution. Efforts to recover from the pandemic must take account of these crises or risk further shocks and take us farther from achieving Sustainable Development.   Our team of international leaders and experts asked and answered the questions that matter:

• What is at risk if we fail to build back better?

• Can recovery spending bring strong economic and job impacts while securing environmental progress?

• Have countries been using Covid-19 spending to tackle climate change, nature loss, and pollution?

• How can countries better leverage recovery spending to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and more equitable world?

The conference also served as a launch pad for a major new report and data set from the Global Recovery Observatory, detailing recovery efforts in the top 50 economies of the world – and whether these align with environmental goals. The Observatory went live on March 10th and featured a data visualization tool developed by UNDP team.

Panelists

• Ms. Svenja Schulze, Minister of Environment, Germany
• Ms. Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director
• Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Managing Director
• Prof. Joseph Stiglitz, Economist and Nobel Laureate
• Mr. Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Director, National Planning Department, Colombia

Moderated by: Nozipho Tshabalala

Watch the virtual technical press briefing with the authors.

Further Resources

• [Report] Are We Building Back Better? Evidence from 2020 and Pathways for Inclusive Green Recovery Spending
• Oxford Recovery Project
• Green Fiscal Policy Network