The climate trap of Covid-19. Business and Climate Foundation, March 2020

Covid-19 is another threat in the environmental fight. In the short term, if there is a rebound effect, emissions will be increased and justified; and in the medium and long term it can decenter society, the economy and politics in its inalienable objective, which is none other than to focus all our efforts on facing Climate Change.

Contrary to the simplistic opinion of some, Covid-19 is not and will not be an ally in the fight against Climate Change. On the contrary, it is another threat. It is true that if we resort to statistics, satellite images and recent studies – none of them official – the lockdowns and business stoppages have meant a reduction in emissions during the last two months. But it’s not going to be more than an accident. Reputable sources point out that the environmental impact will grow again when countries like China resume their business activity. It may even be that the situation worsens if, taking the example of the exit from previous crises, there is a rebound effect on both industrial activity and consumption.

From the serious situation we are experiencing, we can draw some lessons. Although perhaps some of them we have already experienced, of course to a lesser degree, when dealing with some recent environmental accidents. The first has to do with the fragility of our species Do you remember the storm Gloria, which left in our country 10 dead and four missing? This happened only 10 weeks ago! Or the fires that have ravaged Australia for months, killing millions of animals? Well, now a virus has 3 billion people confined. We are a more vulnerable species than we think.

A second lesson to learn is economic. Wouldn’t this be a great time to stop and rethink the economic model we want for this century? An absolutely low-carbon model that is already definitively committed to the companies that make the green economy their axis. It seems that this will not be the case, some voices already point out that this crisis must be overcome quickly and if necessary the overexploitation of fossil fuels will be resorted to. A contradiction.

On the other hand, it seems clear that this crisis will leave new models of work and how we relate. Teleworking, teleconferences, the reduction of useless trips or a greater conciliation, while remaining equally productive, are a series of initiatives that will remain, with the consequent environmental savings that this will entail.

A third lesson is social. We must harness the strength and capital that millions of people have come together for a common good, to stop a health emergency. That must be reflected in the fight against Climate Change. We should ask ourselves, what better common good for all exists today than to take care of our planet and leave a better world to our children? Social activism, once this crisis has been overcome, must be even more powerful, at the same time more mature and realistic, and propose more forceful actions, agreed with economic and political actors. Alone they will not move forward.

The last lesson is political. Always related to our activity, it would be catastrophic if the climate agenda that we have been working on for decades did not advance at the established pace. Everything must be maintained, the COP26 in Glasgow must pick up the failed witness from Madrid and move forward. There is no excuse for the Paris Agreement not to enter into force on January 1, 2021 and the particular initiatives of states and parties such as the European Green Deal must have, now more than ever, the maximum political support, without short-termism. Also at the State level, the legislative initiatives proposed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition should be supported.

Last week, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations said that “the coronavirus is a disease that we hope will be temporary, with temporary impacts, but climate change has been there for many years and will remain for many decades, and requires continuous action.” It must again be all of us who decide if the pandemic is a lesson from which we can draw lessons, I no longer say positive, but exemplary. Or, on the contrary, we are facing a Trojan horse that makes it even more difficult for us to reach objectives in the fight against Climate Change, which are inalienable.

Private Foundation Company & Climate.

March 2020.