Corona Sustainability Compass

Logo CSC-Blog zur Coronakrise
© UBA

The coronavirus crisis is presenting our society with huge challenges. In crises, however, things often become possible that seemed inconceivable yesterday. During crises, new ideas for a better future can emerge.

Corona Sustainability Compass – manage today, master tomorrow

The coronavirus crisis is presenting our healthcare system with some huge challenges: those who have fallen prey to the virus have to be helped to prevent the virus from spreading, and vaccines and medicinal products need to be developed. The economy and public life are practically at a standstill. Businesses are facing a huge squeeze on their liquidity. Many companies are asking their employees to work short-time. Not only are people worried about their health, they are also worried about their economic survival. In an acute emergency situation of this kind, it is absolutely right for the state to provide generous and unbureaucratic support – to pave the way for the economy to recover as soon as the crisis is gone.

In managing the coronavirus crisis, however, it is also important to not lose sight of the bigger challenges ahead: the impact of global warming, the excess consumption of resources far beyond what planet earth can cope with and the loss of biodiversity. We believe that the current coronavirus crisis offers a unique opportunity to rethink current models of business and to shape a new economic start on a more sustainable and future-proof basis.

It is only natural that in times of great uncertainty, people prefer to rely on tried-and-tested routines instead of new, forward-looking strategies. In crises, however, things often become possible that seemed inconceivable yesterday. During crises, new ideas for a better future can also emerge. In the “Corona Sustainability Compass (CSC) – manage today, master tomorrow” blog, which will go online in the week before Easter, authors including leading scientists, decision-makers from the world of business and politicians will make their personal contribution to the debate.

What is the One Health approach, and how to implement it?

The current coronavirus pandemic has refocused attention on the fact that more than two thirds of known infectious diseases in humans originated in animals. The majority of infectious diseases that have emerged in recent years were transmitted from wild animals or farm livestock to humans. read more

How environmental policy stakeholders could respond to social

The crisis has created situations and images that seemed utopian in "normal" times, in addition to the manifold, sometimes serious, negative social and socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Inner cities with less traffic, wild animals reclaiming their habitats, a reduction to the essentials. read more

Sustainability Transformations and Covid

Over the past several decades, the global community was following a development model that seemed unsustainable. The adopted path of development led to consequences with a potential for serious impact on the environment, economies and societies. COVID-19 crisis precipitated the situation by transforming it from a dangerous regional health threat to an all-consuming global pandemic and economic ... read more

Considering involving stakeholders after COVID: or – there is no

During the early days of the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic a “witty expression” did the rounds on social media in Germany. “Now the young are helping the old” - by not attending parties and staying at home. “Tomorrow (after the pandemic) the old will help the young” - by – finally – adapting their lifestyle to the challenges of climate change. read more

Navigating abrupt system changes

Irrespective of the health issues, the coronavirus pandemic that we are currently experiencing demonstrates that rapid and radical responses of governments and business, as well as rapid lifestyle changes, are possible. Suddenly, we’ve found we are able to adjust personal habits and routines (e.g. not shaking hands) read more

Share:
Article:
Printer-friendly version

The Umweltbundesamt

For our environment