Comment

Earth Day 2020

Earth Day was first launched on 22 April 1970 as a unified response to the environment crisis. It saw an estimated 10% of the US population take to the streets and college campuses to protest and seek a new way of doing things. Fast forward 50 years to today and the world now stands at a fundamental crossroads, due not only to the growing environmental and climate crisis, but also now to COVID-19.

Despite the significant challenges ahead, can we ensure some lasting positives from the behavioural changes forced on us by the pandemic to frame the recovery and facilitate a step change in global efforts to combat and prepare for climate change.

Does the historically low oil price present an opportunity for environmental taxes to be introduced without impacting consumers as many are calling for? Will a negative oil price deliver a step change in renewable energy investment?  Will the COVID-19 lockdown in force across much of the planet result in long-term sustainable behaviours such as more home working, greater use of technologies such as video conferencing and less unnecessary travel? Will we see significantly increased focus by Government and business alike on repeated warnings from expert bodies such as the IPCC and Committee on Climate Change and efforts to better manage these risks? Will the estimated 5% drop in global carbon emissions estimated to result from the COVID-19 pandemic quickly revert back once the lockdown is over? Or can we build on this to deliver the circa 7% reduction in global emissions that will be required year on year to meet Paris Climate Agreement targets?

The direction of travel we take in the UK from this point forwards obviously remains to be seen. Recent history such as the 2008 financial crash and 1970s oil crisis suggests that lessons can quickly be forgotten and that business as usual returns as the easy option.

22 April 2020