Page 111 - COVID-19: The Great Reset

the impact on unemployment.

2. Companies will be under such pressure to increase

revenues that sustainability in general and climate
considerations in particular will become secondary.

3. Low oil prices (if sustained, which is likely) could
encourage both consumers and businesses to rely even
more on carbon-intensive energy.

These three reasons are cogent enough to make them

compelling, but there are others that might just succeed in
pushing the trend in the other direction. Four in particular could
succeed in making the world cleaner and more sustainable:

1. Enlightened leadership. Some leaders and decision-

makers who were already at the forefront of the fight
against climate change may want to take advantage of the
shock inflicted by the pandemic to implement long-lasting
and wider environmental changes. They will, in effect,

make “good use” of the pandemic by not letting the crisis
go to waste. The exhortation of different leaders ranging
from HRH the Prince of Wales to Andrew Cuomo to “build it
back better” goes in that direction. So does a dual

declaration made by the IEA with Dan Jørgensen, Minister
for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark, suggesting
that clean energy transitions could help kick-start
economies: “Around the world, leaders are getting ready

now, drawing up massive economic stimulus packages.
Some of these plans will provide short-term boosts, others
will shape infrastructure for decades to come. We believe
that by making clean energy an integral part of their plans,

governments can deliver jobs and economic growth while
also ensuring that their energy systems are modernised,
more resilient and less polluting.” [112] Governments led by
enlightened leaders will make their stimulus packages

conditional upon green commitments. They will, for
example, provide more generous financial conditions for
companies with low-carbon business models.

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