A green future

Covid-19 has highlighted the drastic changes we will have to make to reach emissions targets and mitigate the effects of climate change. How can we be a part of the green future we want to build post-coronavirus? It’s something that has been playing on my mind. We have a unique opportunity at hand. A chance to rebuild the world in a different image. This pandemic has shown us that a quick, effective response must be taken to save lives and build a better tomorrow during crisis. Climate change still looms in a post-coronavirus future.

If there were ever a time to push for innovation, a future green economy and an environmentally conscious future, it is now. The anxiety of this is almost overwhelming. As if there wasn’t already a slim time window we have to make this transition less abrupt and dangerous, we now have a pandemic. It’s like double the anxiety. Double the uncertainty, and to make it even worse there is the anxiety of getting the future right. The fear that when coronavirus ends, the world will fail. We will miss the unique opportunity we have to build a better future.

However, where I am finding anxiety I am also finding excitement. Uncertainty can be exciting. This isn’t just an opportunity for big corporations or governments (although it is very much their responsibility), it is also an opportunity for us. For me, I find taking simple everyday actions and communicating with people with similar interests about a greener future. This helps keep my anxiety manageable, and can even transform into hope. For students, families, innovators, passionate people and anyone who thinks we can do better. This will be a time to find that idea, start a start-up, look for something new and creative and make the best of what we’ve got.