Why the Current Crisis Could Be a Defining Moment for Building a More Resilient and Sustainable Future
by Philippe Delorme
Sustainability at Schneider Electric
The current crisis is a defining moment for modern society. It is a stark reminder of our vulnerability and interdependence in face of global threats. Let’s consider it as a turning point towards building a more resilient and sustainable future.
A stark reminder of our vulnerabilities
The crisis has exposed the vulnerability of humans
In a matter of weeks, a new virus has led to an unprecedented health crisis. From a local epidemic to a global health crisis. Its infection speed and scale have surprised all. But through tremendous global efforts from the healthcare workers saving lives on the frontline and those who are maintaining critical infrastructure uptime so we can stay connected, we are finally starting to see new cases of infections flatten in parts of the world. As we prepare for the future, infrastructure improvements will be crucial for overcoming future crises.
The crisis has exposed the fragility of our economies
The health crisis has forced our society to take drastic measures. At its peak nearly half of humanity was confined. Once populated cities are now vacated and occupied by emptiness. These measures triggered an unprecedented global economic crisis, plunging the world economy into a recession with deep consequences. Unemployment claims reached 22 million in the United States in four weeks. And projections from the International Monetary Fund indicate that the economy can contract at at scale that we have not seen since the Great Depression. As we plan for a recovery, how we plan our post crisis future could be a defining moment.
A turning point towards building a more resilient and sustainable future
The world that will emerge from this crisis will look different. Everything we do post crisis must be with a strong focus on building a more resilient and sustainable future.
The crisis has highlighted that health is paramount
- The crisis has exposed serious gaps in our healthcare system, both in developed and emerging countries. Even countries with leading healthcare infrastructure and the highest number of beds per 1,000 people are facing challenges due to the health crisis. It has also shown that a too extended supply chain for medicines, healthcare materials, not to mention personal protective equipment, could threaten the best pandemic mitigation plans due to critical supply shortages.
