Corona Sustainability Compass

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.

Science and science-policy advice in post-normal times: chance

Rarely has there been a time when scientists have been in the focus of politics and the public over a longer period of time than since the beginning of the Corona crisis – at least from a German perspective: no political measure that was not justified by (the latest) scientific findings, no talk show with at least one scientist, daily press conferences of the Robert Koch Institute ... read more

Resilience thanks to green energy: Future investments for

Deserted streets, markets and offices. Global supply chains are disrupted and supply shortages appear. Many face growing food insecurity. This is not the storyline of a dystopian film, but reality for many people around the world. Considering that, according to the WHO, around 7.6 billion people have no or only limited access to preventive health care, the current situation in many countries is .. read more

Global knowledge cooperation as a catalyst for societal change

In the last few months, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown how vulnerable our globalised and interconnected societies are, how inseparable national and international policies are, and that such a crisis can affect almost all policy areas and departments. Social, economic and labour market policies have been just as important as education and financial policies. But the crisis has not only exposed ... read more

A new kind of closeness - Impulses for more sustainability in

The drastic travel and contact restrictions during the COVID 19 pandemic abruptly stopped movements and encounters of people on all spatial scales. In many areas, the establishment or expansion of virtual communication followed with immense speed. This resulted in a fascinating ambivalence of distance and closeness. read more

Perspectives of sustainable and crisis-proof cities in the

‘More local, public and agile, the cornerstones of a resilient post-Corona city’ The shutdown of public and economic life; the rediscovery of what is really ‘systemically relevant’; new forms of community spirit and of generations; read more

Corona Sustainability Compass - english Version | Umweltbundesamt