An integrated approach to sustainable development, National Resilience, and COVID-19 responses: The case of Japan
Autor
DeWit, Andrew
Shaw, Rajib
Djalante, Riyanti
Institución
Resumen
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to historic economic fallout. To protect public health and stabilize incomes,
governments have implemented massive fiscal stimulus packages. These fiscal supports are crucial, though there
is concern that sustainable and resilient development will be sacrificed in the rush to preserve incomes and
industries. The aim of the paper is to review whether the Japanese governments’ responses in terms of financial
stimulus considers longer term resilience and sustainability. This paper reviews pertinent academic literature and
publicly available data from governments and organisations. The research is a rapid analysis of emerging information provided by the government of Japan and other international organisations. Using the case of Japan,
this paper suggests that it is possible both to protect public health and essential services, while also promoting
resilience and sustainability. Japan’s integrated solutions show that pandemic response can include accelerated
decarbonization and resilient, sustainable development. The paper also warns also that failure to act on longterm sustainability risks increased inequality, higher opportunity costs, cascading hazards, and further retreat
from planetary thinking and globalism.