The fifth edition of the OECD Regional Outlook: Addressing COVID-19 and moving to net zero greenhouse gas emissions comes at a critical juncture. The COVID 19 crisis has laid bare a number of weaknesses in our economic and social systems and, in doing so, starkly revealed the interconnectivity between the environment, economies and people. Many of these weaknesses were apparent before COVID-19 but less so the costs of inaction to address them and, in turn, their unprecedented consequences.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health of our societies and economies. It has highlighted that risks to human health can trigger a systemic crisis. Economic and social systems may only be as resilient as their weakest link. The interdependencies between resilience and inclusiveness have thus been laid bare. Anticipation has proven critical to mitigating systemic crises. However, while the crisis is global, there are significant differences across countries and the impacts also differ strongly within countries. Understanding the causes of these spatial differences and, in particular, dealing with their outcomes, especially for the most vulnerable and worst-hit communities, is critical for improving resilience and “building back better”. Resilience also requires that we address the global environmental challenges – including climate change – that make pandemics more likely. All of this reinforces the importance of multi-level governance and local actors in implementing and designing mitigation measures and in supporting an inclusive and resilient recovery.