COVID-19 has changed our daily lives in many ways—some of which may be here to stay—forcing us to redefine our concept of “normal.” The pandemic will affect macro systems and economies and fundamentally change the way we work and interact. While this is an abrupt and unprecedented change, it also presents an opportunity to think about how we want the world to function in this new normal. Today, we can rebuild society in a more sustainable way.
We are increasingly discovering that human health and the health of the planet are linked. Among the wealth of studies to which EDC has had access, we found a recent study by Harvard University that discovered that higher levels of air pollution are related to higher Covid-19 mortality rates, and some observe that the destruction of habitat caused by deforestation brings animals closer to humans, increasing the possibility of new viral transmission.
10 years to go until key sustainability targets
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and a decade until key sustainability targets, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the deadline set by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to avoid climate catastrophe. Stakeholders such as investors, the press, consumers, and NGOs believe that the pandemic will be a turning point and that companies will be held accountable for how they approached sustainability when faced with difficult choices.
We all agree on one point: now is the time to discuss and think about climate change to avoid another existential global crisis.
This is a second chance to rethink our infrastructure, our supply chains, and our commitments to sustainability. We may have to redesign the way we work and the layout of our offices—so why not take the opportunity to make them more energy efficient? We are already seeing the marked environmental benefits of reduced air and car traffic – why not use this time to invest in greener public transport? The energy, environment, food, technology, logistics, and financial sectors are just a few that could be key to sustainable opportunities for reinvention.
Public-private partnerships can also be an important part of this evolution. The world’s response to Covid-19 has demonstrated how quickly and effectively government, NGOs, and businesses can work together to create change. Globally, Exxon collaborated with the Global Medical Innovation Center to create face masks for medical professionals, and Ventec, General Motors, and StoptheSpread.org teamed up to manufacture ventilators. This is an opportunity to learn from these partnerships and apply those lessons to improve the sustainability of our system and achieve a win-win outcome. As an example, the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer found that trust in institutions increases by 13 to 20 percent when they partner with each other.
An opportunity to rebuild
Globalization has bound us together inextricably—it is what makes global pandemics possible, and it is what makes us capable of overcoming them. But if we take this as an opportunity to rebuild, rather than simply get through, we can emerge on the other side better prepared. This pause from “business as usual” may be just the opportunity we needed.
