Globally today we face a crisis which is exacerbated by modern human behaviour and which can put people in danger if economies are prioritised far above the wellbeing of populations; it is a crisis which can only be addressed by urgent collective action.
That is a description which rings true of the COVID-19 pandemic which currently sees governments across the world wrestling to find the balance between safeguarding the health of their citizens and reversing the downturn in their economies.
It is a crisis which, certainly in the UK, has seen a break from business as usual:
Government is communicating directly with the public on a daily basis; it is being held to account for its actions by journalists and parliament (albeit through a hybrid in-person / online system); it is taking regular updates from scientific advisers; and it is enlisting the help of stakeholders from across society to deliver urgent action to combat the crisis.
Businesses are playing their part, taking serious decisions in regard to their workforce, their supply chains, their ability to serve their customers and communities, many making innovative efforts to stay viable and fulfil their purpose whilst ensuring that they are having a positive impact at a time of national emergency.
Individuals are making sacrifices by staying indoors and reducing their contact with others outside their households. People are making significant changes to their lives and lifestyles in order to ensure the wellbeing of themselves, their friends, families and communities.
The description at the top of this blog could certainly describe the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is also a description which rings true of the climate crisis. The symptoms of COVID-19 are clear and consistent and they are having a devastating effect across the world all at once. The symptoms of the climate crisis only differ in that they are many and varied, and they are having a significantly devastating effect across the world, not in one wave, but with increasing frequency and severity.
The actions taken by governments, businesses and individuals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic provide a potent model for urgent action to stop a global catastrophe. As we emerge from the immediate threat of coronavirus, we should be using this model as a basis for applying strong collective action to address the climate crisis. Where governments recognise a threat, and they communicate the severity of the threat to their societies, we have seen that organisations and individuals will understand and will act.
This is the important point: political leadership on the issue. The Economist recently noted in an article on the politics of climate change that the ‘costs of environmental improvements tend to fall on a few groups—typically, those doing the polluting. In domestic environmental politics, progress typically relies on going some way to placate those groups while increasing the enthusiasm for action among others and the public.’
Whilst putting the responsibility onto individuals provides a useful tool for the biggest polluters to make public pledges whilst quietly protecting their traditional business models and financial structures, the real progress will come only when policymakers and politicians recognise the threat and communicate the severity of the threat to their societies along with a requirement for all stakeholders to take significant and urgent action.
This blog alone will not change this situation, but if there is recognition by the media, individuals, communities, businesses, charities and other organisations that the model currently being used to counter the global coronavirus emergency is a valuable starting point for tackling the threats presented by climate change, then the next few weeks and months will provide an opportunity for a debate to emerge about the operational resilience of business and society and the extent of society’s desire for stronger and more immediate political leadership on the climate emergency. By assessing their own sustainability strategies and principles, and by communicating with authority on the issue, all stakeholders can help to shift this issue up the political agenda - something which should be openly welcomed by the UK government in 2020: the UK Year of Climate Action.