This paper aims to examine the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic that can be applied to the climate crisis in the South African context. This will be achieved by first briefly examining the similarities and differences between the COVID-19 crisis and the climate crisis. It will then outline six key lessons that can be drawn from the COVID-19 crisis for the South African context.

These are:

1) Adequate and accessible social protection is required to protect the most vulnerable;

2) Care work must be appropriately valued;

3) A capable, trustworthy and strong state is essential;

4) Localisation of industrial processes is required to build resilient economies;

5) International cooperation is vital to success; and

6) Crises worsen inequalities.