Building up an ecologically sustainable and socially desirable post-COVID-19 future

Rémi Duflot; Stefan Baumeister; Daniel Burgas; Kyle Eyvindson; María Triviño; Clemens Blattert; Anna Kuparinen; Mária Potterf

doi:10.1007/s11625-021-00940-z

Building up an ecologically sustainable and socially desirable post-COVID-19 future

Sustain Sci. 2021;16(4):1397-1403. doi: 10.1007/s11625-021-00940-z. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Authors

Rémi Duflot^{1

2}, Stefan Baumeister^{1

3}, Daniel Burgas^{1

2}, Kyle Eyvindson^{1

2

4}, María Triviño^{1

2}, Clemens Blattert^{1

2}, Anna Kuparinen^{1

2}, Mária Potterf^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
² Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
³ School of Business and Economics, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
⁴ Natural Resource Institute Finland (LUKE), Laatokartanonkaari 9, Helsinki, Finland.

Abstract

COVID-19 crisis has emphasized how poorly prepared humanity is to cope with global disasters. However, this crisis also offers a unique opportunity to move towards a more sustainable and equitable future. Here, we identify the underlying environmental, social, and economic chronic causes of the COVID-19 crisis. We argue in favour of a holistic view to initiate a socio-economic transition to improve the prospects for global sustainability and human well-being. Alternative approaches to "Business-As-Usual" for guiding the transition are already available for implementation. Yet, to ensure a successful and just transition, we need to change our priorities towards environmental integrity and well-being. This necessarily means environmental justice, a different worldview and a closer relationship with nature.

Keywords: Anthropocene; Biodiversity loss; Climate change; Degrowth; Environmental justice; Environmental policy; Sustainability; Well-being.