Letters | After the coronavirus pandemic, the world can’t go back to business as usual
- For all our hubris in treating the natural world as an input factor in the market economy, we have been humbled by the global health crisis
- Covid-19 serves as a reminder that we are not an all-powerful species
It has also become clear that business as usual is no longer fit for purpose. For all our hubris in treating the natural world as an input factor in the market economy, we have been humbled by the pandemic. And, in these unprecedented times, the global health crisis has reminded us about humanity’s place in the natural world – not as an all-powerful species.
So, how can we adapt and thrive in the next normal?
First, recognise that there is no getting back to the old normal. And we can no longer treat the natural world as an extractive resource.
Second, embrace social distancing as a catalyst for change. As we further understand the epidemiology of Covid-19 and its public health implications, getting companies fully back in business will require a fundamental adaptation to the new normal.
Third, act locally in a global world. Companies need to adapt to a new normal, given the evolving restrictions in the fight against the pandemic. At the same time, the coronavirus itself knows no political borders or ideologies. Therefore, any approach to restarting economic and social activities would require greater cross-border coordination, and sharing of resources and information.