Greta Thunberg tried her best, and the Paris Agreement looked to take action, but only the pandemic seemed to spark a major decline in greenhouse gas emissions. According to OMFIF, 2020 has already seen the first “significant decline since modern records began”.
So what’s the problem with this?
Shutting down the economy, unfortunately, doesn’t present us with a sustainable solution for the future. It’s just an extraneous effect of the pandemic, causing lockdowns and isolation across the globe. What we really need is to completely rehaul the economy in a way that encourages the use of less carbon-focused technologies.
There’s a lot of news out there right now saying that COVID-19 is creating a lot of ‘good’ for the environment. But while there have been clearer waters in the canals of Venice and the first clear-sky appearance of the Himalayas in India in decades, getting complacent could cause us to lose the progress we’ve made.
Are we losing focus on a cleaner future?
Technically, no, but we run the risk of it. In Europe, they’re already dialling back climate action – like their previous green deal. Car manufacturers are also pushing for carbon emission benchmarks to be delayed, while the aviation industry is looking for financial support.
Whether this is all a threat or carries the potential to be an opportunity is still hard to tell. It’s early days in terms of the pandemic’s long-term effects, and they’re not all that obvious to pinpoint just yet. But what is evident is that reducing carbon emissions is, unfortunately, becoming less of a priority, as the global economy looks to recover from coronavirus.
The opportunity lies in governments keeping momentum on the goals we’ve already achieved. We can create the economy into something we want to – from scratch. While there are a lot of challenges to overcome and recovery to endure, we are in a position to make a positive impact on the way we operate as a global market.
For example, corporate industries could be encouraged to hone in on how they can help their own country reach net-zero carbon targets. Governments can band together to provide financial support for businesses struggling with the pandemic, alongside cleaner energy incentives; it’s all about encouraging a renewable energy movement during a time where companies of all kinds are forced to change the way they operate.
Whether you’re a small organisation or a multi-national chain, it’s time to think about how you’re making your mark on the world, whether you feel like you’re doing that now or not. Every little bit of action towards climate change counts, and your renewable energy efforts contribute to that.
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