Our study reviews the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the path to a climate-neutral global economy. The analysis of the progress made worldwide, with emphasis on developments in the Republic of Moldova and Romania, resulted in several relevant conclusions. Thus, the economic recession induced by the new crisis has reduced investment in clean technologies, highlighted the disparities associated with access to energy, deepened the energy poverty of vulnerable communities, reduced employment in strategic activities, further exposed to disease social categories affected by pre-existing comorbidities, reduced budget expenditures for energy effi ciency measures, reactivated in some countries the interest in highly polluting energy technologies, lowered electricity and oil prices to negative levels etc., all against the background of politicized measures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. On the other hand, in some countries, the crisis has led to the acceleration of research, development and application of new energy, digital, medical technologies. Consequently, the pandemic will have both long-term effects and ephemeral consequences that will be quickly offset by the rebirth capacity of this living organism - the world economy. The success of the relaunch will depend on the extent to which society as a whole will recognize the structural disparities highlighted during the crisis.