Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and possible consequences for environmental policy

The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly and fiercely changed social life around the world. Besides the diverse, in part drastic negative consequences, the crisis has also produced situations and pictures that seem utopian in “normal” times. Some of these impacts will soon fade away, others are very likely to continue in the longer term. The pandemic has thus changed the social context for environmental action. Against this background, this discussion paper deals with the following two questions: Which social impacts of the pandemic are relevant for environmental policy? And how should environmental policy react to these changes?