The global coordinated efforts in the face of the coronavirus crisis, and compliance from the world’s citizens, should encourage governments into taking more policy action on climate change, according to a fund manager
As covid-19 accelerates its spread across the globe, infecting some 187,000 people and causing the deaths of almost 7,500 individuals, as well as causing the worst stock market falls since the 1987, David Czupryna, head of ESG client portfolio management at Candriam, said the response from individuals to co-operate on suppression measures, such as social distancing and self isolating, should encourage governments that society is willing to make changes to protect our planet.
“People are having to change the way are they living and consuming in a way that was unthinkable a couple of months ago,” he said.
“What is happening with the coronavirus is showing us we have the joint ability to comprehend and act together when faced with a global challenge.”
He added that measures such as flying less, or even stopping flying completely, have been accepted even though scientists have been warning on the climate change implications of airline travel.
“Governments around the world are doing exactly what scientists are telling them to do [re coronavirus] but when scientists are telling them what to do about climate change, they aren’t listening.
“One of those things is flying less, something which scientists have been advocating for decades. Now people are stopping flying.
“I don’t know what will happen next, but this gives people hope.”
Czupryna added climate change is also a “personal” crisis that needs to be taken seriously.
“This should be a lesson to governments in following what the scientists are saying when they are warning on a global issue that is threatening the lives of millions of people,” he added.
