Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice-President of Energy Management of Schneider Electric, discusses how the current COVID-19 crisis may be a defining moment in building a more sustainable future.
30 June, 2020
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.
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 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.
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 current crisis is forcing our society to take a hard pause. On the one hand, this episode has exposed our vulnerabilities in the face of global threats. On the other hand, it has offered many of us a unique chance to slow down and think about how we could avoid similar catastrophes. As we plan for a resilient and sustainable future, we need to focus our efforts towards improving our healthcare systems, accelerating digitalization, and continuing our fight against climate change. Let’s learn from the current crisis and turn it into opportunity for a better future!
Article first appeared on Schneider Electric
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