Article last updated 30 September 2025.
The virus has had a profound and sudden impact across the planet, and it will continue to affect our lives and influence economic activity for some time to come. Amid the continued uncertainty, the problems that grabbed the world’s attention in 2019 – climate change in particular – are not going away. The nagging need for systemic reform of the global economy stays constant.
Indeed, the pandemic only highlights the weaknesses of the current system. But it could also be a catalyst for accelerating the move towards a more responsible capitalism, and an opportunity to direct stimulus towards building a more sustainable economy.
The response to COVID-19 has shown us that capitalism has enormous power for good when it comes to finding solutions to urgent medical needs. Before the pandemic came along, the world was already facing a crisis from the growing antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics, which we also explore in “A healthy recovery”, the final section of this report.
View the first in our series of Planet Papers: A responsible recovery
Read our entire Planet Papers series here:
Planet Papers 2: Changing the planet Planet Papers 3: A brand new world Planet Papers 4: Feeding the planet Planet Papers 5: The economic ecosystem Planet Papers 6: Cities to the rescuePlanet Papers 7: Good COP, bad COP
Earth Convention webinar: Time for a reset?
Earth Convention webinar: watch ‘Time for a Reset?’, to hear our panel discuss whether the COVID-19 crisis could be the defining moment in the fight against climate change.