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The pandemic has presented such an existential crisis—such a stark reminder of our fragility—that it has driven us to confront the global threat of climate change more forcefully and to consider how, like the pandemic, it will alter our lives and our economy.

Laurence Douglas Fink

2021 letter to CEOs, emphasizing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) priorities · Checked on 14 March 2026
The pandemic has presented such an existential crisis—such a stark reminder of our fragility—that it has driven us to confront the global threat of climate change more forcefully and to consider how, like the pandemic, it will alter our lives and our economy.

Analysis

Larry Fink’s 2021 letter to CEOs includes the sentence: “The pandemic has presented such an existential crisis—such a stark reminder of our fragility—that it has driven us to confront the global threat of climate change more forcefully and to consider how, like the pandemic, it will alter our lives and our economy.” The wording in the statement matches the original text, confirming its authenticity.

Background

Larry Fink, founder and CEO of BlackRock, issues an annual letter to CEOs outlining the firm’s strategic priorities. In the 2021 edition, he linked the COVID‑19 pandemic to heightened urgency around climate‑change action, urging businesses to integrate ESG considerations into their core strategies.

Verdict summary

The quoted passage accurately reflects language Larry Fink used in BlackRock’s 2021 letter to CEOs.

Sources consulted

— BlackRock, “2021 Letter to CEOs” (PDF), BlackRock.com, https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/investor-relations/annual-letter
— Financial Times, “BlackRock’s Larry Fink urges CEOs to put climate at the centre of strategy” (Jan 2021), https://www.ft.com/content/...
— The Guardian, “Larry Fink’s 2021 letter: pandemic and climate change” (Jan 2021), https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/...