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Source: UBA

Corona Sustainability Compass

Table of contents

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.


Articles

The UBA

Coming through the pandemic the right way up

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet clear. We don’t know how long it will last, how it will end or even how it is distributed geographically. Through the suffering and disruption of daily lives it forces us to imagine the world in new ways.

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The UBA

Navigating abrupt system changes

Irrespective of the health issues, the coronavirus pandemic that we are currently experiencing demonstrates that rapid and radical responses of governments and business, as well as rapid lifestyle changes, are possible. Suddenly, we’ve found we are able to adjust personal habits and routines (e.g. not shaking hands)

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The UBA

The Coronavirus Crisis as a Social and Scientific Challenge

The importance of sustainability and resilience - A reconstruction after the coronavirus crisis must be a transformation which strengthens the sustainability of the economy and society. The huge state interventions and investments to protect the economy which have been prompted in the short term by the coronavirus crisis must therefore be oriented towards the guiding concept of sustainability....

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The UBA

Killing two birds with one stone? Green dead ends and ways out of

Public measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic are leading to a severe economic crisis these days. In order to cope with this crisis, many expect the state to act strong. Therefore, governments across the world have pledged billions of Euros for extensive recovery programs. But how “green” should these recovery programs be?

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The UBA

Biodiversity as insurance: aligning economic stimulus packages

The corona pandemic reminds us how vulnerable modern societies have become through their treatment of nature. At the same time, many people have experienced nature as a source of recreation during the lockdown. On today's International Day for Biological Diversity it is worth remembering that 2020 is a crucial milestone for global biodiversity conservation. To seize this opportunity, economic reco

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The UBA

The use of private capital to provide for climate-friendly recons

The current corona pandemic has led to an abrupt economic and social slowdown never previously thought possible. Private and business enterprises face challenges which are proving almost impossible to master. The post-Corona reconstruction phase also requires us to set the right course now in terms of climate policy and to discuss innovative concepts with sustainable effects for the future.

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The UBA

What about us? Youth (un)employment in times of COVID-19

The youth workforce is particularly vulnerable to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Good policies are now more than needed to pave the way for decent and sustainable jobs for young adults.
COVID-19 has shown us just how fragile and globalised our economies and societies are. Poverty and income inequality will severely limit opportunities for youth employment in the post-COVID

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The UBA

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;

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The UBA

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.

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The UBA

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 ...

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The UBA

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 ..

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The UBA

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 ...

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