The COVID-19 has widened the gap between rich and poor countries, which has had a negative impact in the achievements from over the past thirty years of global human development, for instance, leading to a raise of racism and discrimination (Abidoye, B., Felix, J., Kapto, S. & Patterson, L. (2021). Leaving No One Behind: Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals- SDGs). In particular, the pandemic has had a deteriorating effect in those sustainable development goals more strictly related to people and their well-being. Now, the impressive global achievements made so far in the healthcare sector —for instance, a massive drop in the number of undernourished people achieved over the past two decades, as well as the rapid economic growth shown by Asian countries— are threatened by alarming setbacks due to COVID-19.
For this reason, there is an urgent need for the establishment of a subsidiarity approach for achieving resilient, and sustainable regions through the increase of cohesive coordination between SDG main policies in the national and international community. Starting from a new push to implement the Agenda 2030 at local and regional level, which will enable countries to not only further reach the SDG targets, but also to achieve a human development gain sooner.

During this panel discussion the AER alongside the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Committee of the Regions will assess the consequences and opportunities that the COVID-19 pandemic will bring about in order to achieve sustainable and resilient regions in a post-pandemic world.

This and more will be discussed during the panel debate on 29 October 2021 from 12:00 to 13:00 CET at the Maison Région Grand Est iStrasbourg (FR), and it will also be broadcasted online.

Interpretation in French and in English will be available for both the on-site and the online even

All the participants at the on-site event must comply with the COVID-19 rules in France and show a valid COVID-19 certificate at the venue doors.