Giving Compass' Take:

• Leonardo Martin and Lauren Sidner offer suggestions for building resilience to the compounding threats of climate and pandemic disasters.

• What's at stake if we fail to address climate change during the coronavirus crisis? How are you building resilience during the unprecedented challenges facing global communities?

• Find out why now is the time to boost your giving for urgent global disaster relief.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc, the world’s energies are rightly focused on efforts to contain the virus and manage the economic fallout. Yet, in the background, the climate emergency remains as urgent as ever.

To manage the twin threats of the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, building resilience against both is imperative and urgent. We will have to multitask on this one, as delay will cost lives and livelihoods.

Investments in COVID-19 response and in climate change resilience must work together and reinforce each other, rather than compete for resources. Here are three ideas on how to do it.

Invest in health care that addresses both pandemics and climate change

In the coming weeks and months, billions of dollars will flow into healthcare sectors around the world as part of the coronavirus response. Some of this spending will address immediate shortages of medical personnel, coronavirus testing, life-support equipment and protective gear.

But other investments will go into strengthening countries’ healthcare infrastructure, information technology and surge capacity. Many of these investments simultaneously could make communities more resilient to both pandemics and climate change.

Strengthen the disaster risk finance architecture

Over the past decade and a half, a disaster risk finance architecture has emerged to serve mostly low- and middle-income countries, focusing primarily on earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and drought. The same or similar instruments could be used to manage pandemic risks.

Put disaster-responsive social safety nets in place

While access to rapid finance for post-disaster response is critical, it’s not enough. Governments need systems in place to deliver those resources to the communities that need them the most. Social protection programs that can quickly and automatically scale up after a disaster — be it a pandemic or a climate-related disaster — offer one promising approach.

Read the full article about building resilience to climate and pandemic crises by Leonardo Martin and Lauren Sidner at GreenBiz.