Beyond-lockdown - an overview of the headlines
Here we are, April 2021. The past 400 days, since March 2020, have held many challenges as we all know - but there have been opportunities too. Perhaps you, like me, have found it hard to be separated from people you love and facing business challenges as a result of lockdown conditions. However, there has also been a surprising peace in the return to a simpler life, one where there are fewer cars on the road and we have all been forced to stay local. This has been reflected on a global scale as we’ve seen pollution levels drop and the environment reap the benefit of humans remaining in one place instead of in airplanes or on the road. Now, as the recovery begins, there is a big opportunity to take the knowledge of the past year to create a more diverse, equal and environmentally sound society that benefits from the recent lessons that we’ve learned.
The green recovery
A sustainable recovery from COVID-19 needs to be a green one - that’s the central messaging that we have seen over the past six months from institutions such as The World Bank and the OECD. There are many benefits to this - for example, a new study in Nature Climate Change established that we could avoid 0.3C of global warming by the middle of the century if governments invest in the right way, focusing on a strategically green recovery. Measures that ensure cleaner air as well as more effective waste management, enhanced biodiversity and healthier water boost the resilience of communities and reduce vulnerability to future pandemics. Plus they can create jobs, kick start economic activity and reduce inequality. So far, many government measures announced are falling short of the promises made where a green recovery is concerned but there is still hope that this will be prioritised given the many benefits that it offers. It is, after all, as President Biden declared last week, the ‘decisive decade’.
The issue of inequality
There are two stark realities that have emerged in recent months: women have borne the brunt of the negative economic and social impact of the pandemic and COVID-19 has made racial and income inequality much worse. Recovery presents an opportunity to rebalance the socioeconomic impact that the pandemic has had on these groups and to support a flourishing future. The spotlight of the virus has been merciless in highlighting where the inequality cracks in our communities are and this is an ideal moment to start addressing those to create a stronger recovery - and society - going forward.
What can we do, as individuals? Understanding what’s really important
On an individual level let’s review the impact of the past 12 months on our own lives. There is a sense that we have ‘lost’ a lot of time but the alternative perspective is that we have been given the chance to stop and consider what’s really important to us. That’s why this is such a valuable time to ask essential questions such as:
● What has felt most important to me over the past 12 months?
● What did I really miss - and what didn’t I miss at all?
● How has this affected my values and outlook on life?
● What do I want the next 12 months to look like now that the clouds are beginning to clear?
On a collective level - and individually - we are all at a pivotal moment for reviewing what has gone before and tweaking what happens next. If you are looking to make change in the coming months I can help guide you through it with bespoke coaching that supports your individual needs and goals.