The COVID-19 pandemic was a human tragedy of epic proportions. People lost loved ones, jobs and businesses. The effects will continue to ripple throughout economies and communities for years — even decades.

Governments and others have spent trillions of dollars to date responding to the effects of the pandemic. However, rebuilding the old-fashioned way — by investing in fossil fuel-driven growth that threatens human health and exacerbates inequality — is risky and short-sighted. Future prosperity demands that countries build back better.

In practice, this means harnessing low-carbon investment opportunities to reboot economies while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that jeopardize lives. It means pulling people out of poverty and creating more jobs. And it means fostering resilience to future shocks, like disease outbreaks and the impacts of climate change.