The position paper discusses the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the global economy and geopolitics, for the countries of the Global South and for international environmental and sustainability policy. On this basis, the paper proposes approaches for a substantive reorientation of international environmental and sustainability policy. For example, the nexus of environment and health should be given more attention and the resilience of economic and social systems should be established as a requirement. Measures are needed to deal with the current pandemic, to prevent further pandemics and to further develop international environmental and sustainability policy.