The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest test the world has faced since the Second World War. There is a natural tendency in the face of crisis to take care of one’s own first. But true leadership understands that there are times to think big and more generously. Such thinking was behind the Marshall Plan and the formation of the United Nations after the Second World War. This is also such a moment. We must work together as societies and as an international community to save lives, ease suffering and lessen the shattering economic and social consequences of COVID-19.
The impact of the coronavirus is immediate and dreadful. We must act now and we must act together. Just as we must act together to address another urgent global emergency that we must not lose sight of — climate change. In April, the World Meteorological Organisation released data showing that temperatures have already increased 1.1 degrees centigrade above preindustrial levels. The world is on track for devastating climate disruption from which no one can self-isolate.
For years, we have failed our young by damaging the planet and failing to protect the people most vulnerable to crises. We have a rare and short window of opportunity to rectify that.
Now, on every continent and in every sea, climate disruption is becoming the new normal. Human conduct is also leading to severe biodiversity loss, changing animal-human interaction and distorting ecosystem processes that regulate our planetary health and control many services that humans depend on. Science is screaming to us that we are close to running out of time — approaching a point of no return for human health, which depends on planetary health.
Addressing climate change and COVID-19 simultaneously and at enough scale requires a response stronger than any seen before to safeguard lives and livelihoods. A recovery from the coronavirus crisis must not take us just back to where we were last summer. It is an opportunity to build more sustainable and inclusive economies and societies — a more resilient and prosperous world. Recently the International Renewable Energy Agency released data showing that transforming energy systems could boost global GDP by $98 trillion by 2050, delivering 2.4 per cent more GDP growth than current plans. Boosting investments in renewable energy alone would add 42 million jobs globally, create health care savings eight times the cost of the investment, and prevent a future crisis.
Six climate-positive actions
I am proposing six climate-positive actions for governments to consider once they go about building back their economies, societies and communities.
First: As we spend trillions to recover from COVID-19, we must deliver new jobs and businesses through a clean, green transition. Investments must accelerate the decarbonisation of all aspects of our economy.
Second: Where taxpayers’ money rescues businesses, it must be creating green jobs and sustainable and inclusive growth. It must not be bailing out outdated polluting, carbon-intensive industries.
Third: Fiscal firepower must shift economies from grey to green, making societies and people more resilient through a transition that is fair to all and leaves no one behind.
Fourth: Looking forward, public funds should invest in the future, by flowing to sustainable sectors and projects that help the environment and climate. Fossil fuel subsidies must end and polluters must pay for their pollution.
Fifth: The global financial system, when it shapes policy and infrastructure, must take risks and opportunities related to climate into account. Investors cannot continue to ignore the price our planet pays for unsustainable growth.
Sixth: To resolve both emergencies, we must work together as an international community. Like the coronavirus, greenhouse gases respect no boundaries. Isolation is a trap. No country can succeed alone.
The Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals laid out by the United Nations in 2015 provide the blueprint and the tools for a better recovery. While Britain and Italy have sensibly decided to postpone this year’s annual international climate conference until 2021, we cannot afford to waver on climate action or scale down ambition. Governments must honour their commitments to present new national climate plans and longer-term strategies to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The Green Deal
I urge the European Union to place the Green Deal presented last year at the heart of its economic response to the pandemic and to maintain its commitment to submit a new and more ambitious climate plan and long-term strategy consistent with getting to climate neutrality by 2050. I make a similar appeal to all G20 countries, which collectively account for more than 80 per cent of global emissions and over 85 per cent of the global economy. We cannot solve the climate crisis without the G20’s coordinated leadership.
I welcome the leadership shown by countries like South Korea, which has managed the pandemic in an exemplary manner and supported other countries in doing so, and now is looking at leading the way with its own Green New Deal. It is also encouraging to see Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group announcing it would stop new financing for coal-fired power plants, and other organisations like the Simitomo Misui Financial Group moving in that direction
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Earlier this year, the smallest and most vulnerable members of our United Nations family, the small island nations, recommitted to climate ambition even in the midst of the COVID disaster. Their leadership should serve as an inspiration to all.
Young people the world over have been demanding stronger, faster and more ambitious climate action because they understand that it is the only way to secure their future. Similarly, many influential business leaders tell us that climate action and sustainable development are the only ways to protect and strengthen their bottom lines.
Let's rebuild a better world
For years, we have failed our young by damaging the planet and failing to protect the people most vulnerable to crises. We have a rare and short window of opportunity to rectify that — by rebuilding a better world, not reverting to one that is good for only a minority of its citizens.
We must act now to tackle the coronavirus globally for all of our sakes — and, at the same time, pursue immediate ambitious climate action for a cleaner, greener, more prosperous and equitable world.
