How Covid-19 unveils the systemic nature of risks

As the global pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world, it has become clear that societies and governments have under invested in disaster risk reduction strategies, particularly when it comes to climate change threats. However, the authors say that there are early lessons that can be learned to assist a green and sustainable recovery.

1. A first early lesson is that we need to improve our understanding of how risk cascades and compounds across systems and sectors.
2. A second early lesson is on good governance. The Covid-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the quality and effectiveness of national disaster risk governance.
3. A third lesson is that few countries have made adequate inclusion of biological risks, including pandemic risk management, in their national and local strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction.