Rather than strictly duplicating lockdown policies from higher income contexts, developing countries will need to adapt their COVID-19 response to local socio-economic circumstances. 

COVID-19 response strategies must be evaluated and adapted in real-time, taking into consideration the effect response measures can have on social determinants of health, including education, food security, and employment.

A lack of adequate COVID-19 testing could lead to an underestimation of the true number of infected individuals and thus an overestimation of the pandemic’s true death rate.

By heightening risks for those already exploited, increasing the risks of exploitation, and disrupting response efforts, the COVID-19 pandemic could greatly impact the fight against modern slavery.

Despite expert consensus that high inequality destabilises societies and undermines democracy, not enough is being done to curtail this growing, global issue.

By prioritising a global crisis coordination mechanism, response-critical people and goods transportation, a global fiscal stimulus, and commitment by global leaders, the G20 can help lead a path out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Emerging evidence in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrates that travel bans, social distancing, and testing can all be effective ways to contain the spread of the virus.

Vast amounts of energy, agricultural nutrients, and water could be recovered from the 380 billion cubic meters of wastewater produced annually worldwide.

While afforestation can help mitigate carbon emissions, care must be taken in regards to the potential effects thirsty trees can have on the water cycle in certain regions.

When trying to make sense of the very different approaches to Iran on either side of the Atlantic, one factor that is often overlooked is how the US and Europe are affected differently by rising oil prices.

To tackle the water quality data gap, extensive government water monitoring networks could shift to additionally gather project data through citizen-led monitoring activities.

If governments do not embrace unconventional water resources, achieving SDG 6 will be as difficult as getting water from a stone — and the consequences for water-scarce regions will be dire.

World Water Day 2018 is a reminder that global water security will not be achieved through business-as-usual approaches, and will depend on efforts to use and expand nature-based solutions.

The potential to achieve Sustainable Development Goal water targets will depend on a hybrid of technologies that improve water measurements and data underpinning indicators of progress.

For decades, China has successfully implemented afforestation programmes to counter desertification. But, while planting more trees will reduce erosion, it is also worsening China’s water crisis.

At the two-year mark of the Sustainable Development Goals, a new policy support system provides authoritative evidence to help governments set clear paths to achieving water-related targets.

The Sendai Framework, while falling short of expectations on many fronts, took some important steps towards integrating lessons from the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Experiences from Fukushima show that providing channels for public participation and dialogue is a crucial first step towards ensuring a sustainable recovery for communities impacted by complex disasters.

Knowing how key resilience is following a disaster, small-scale fishers of Japan’s Tohoku region offer support to Chile’s artisanal fishers impacted by a recent tsunami.

The Ministry of the Environment of Japan and UNU collaborate to produce a video documentary about the decontamination efforts in areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Documentary filmmaker Kaori Brand reflects on the experience of producing this 30-minute video on the recovery efforts of the fishing communities hit by the March 2011 tsunami.

The resilience demonstrated by communities in Japan’s Tohoku region may be one of the best modern-day lessons on what the rest of the world can do to prepare for disasters and the consequences of climate change.