Strengthening Global Climate-Health Resilience: the Role of Multilateral Economic Cooperation

Benedetta GUERZONI * Economic and Policy Analyst, Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission. Contact: benedetta.guerzoni@ec.europa.eu.

Giorgia MANGANI ** G7/G20 Policy Analyst, Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission. Contact: giorgia.mangani@ec.europa.eu.The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

Challenges such as climate change and the recent Covid-19 pandemic have forced policymakers to recognize the close interconnection between environmental and human health. In this context, over the last couple of years multilateral economic forums and institutions (the G7, the G20, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, among others) have significantly stepped up their efforts to support the international community in reinforcing their preparedness and resilience against shocks. Despite the recent progress, increasing global climate-health resilience remains a key policy priority at the international level, which requires a comprehensive strategy and a wide range of tools. Strengthening multilateral economic and financial cooperation, coordinating mutually reinforcing climate and health policies, while enhancing synergies among international initiatives, is crucial in order to transform the ongoing multi-faceted challenges into a unique opportunity to build sustainable and resilient economies and societies.

The importance of protecting global public goods, like environment and health, is becoming increasingly crucial in the context of international efforts to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. Strengthening the resilience of our economies and societies with respect to the threats posed by climate change is widely recognised as an essential factor to ensure long-term economic stability and prosperity. More recently, the Covid-19 shock has exposed the central role of health and pandemic preparedness for the functioning of the global economy, as well as the close interconnection between environmental and human health. Amidst the increasingly difficult geopolitical situation following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, it is particularly important to identify and advance cooperation and dialogue with emerging market and…