The position paper reflects, which guiding principles for future environmental and sustainability policy might be necessary in addition to the existing ones in order to achieve firstly effective crisis management of current and possibly future pandemics and secondly the kick-off into socio-ecological transformations needed to reduce long-term environmental risks. The proposals are based on a careful analysis of the experience with the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, the nexus of environment and health should be given more attention. Furthermore, it is proposed to put resilience of economic and social systems centre stage, and include principles of structural justice, solidarity, adaptive management, the strengthening of state institutions capable of action and a new digital culture as requirements.