Now more than ever: Could the coronavirus crisis become a leading example in the fight against climate change?

The current coronavirus crisis shows that when politics, economics and science join forces, we are in fact able to take drastic measures and implement them in the shortest amount of time. The way the world is reacting to the coronavirus is unprecedented. However, since there are around 600,000 confirmed cases worldwide and more than 30,000 deaths at this moment according to World Health Organization, these measures are hurtful but absolutely necessary.

Let’s also not forget the other crisis that should concern us similarly, the climate crisis. In the case of the corona crisis we are hanging on every word that experts are sharing on what should be done – and look what happens. We are doing what we are being told. Collectively.

Scientist have been telling us for decades what needs to be done in order to stop global warming. The Paris Climate Agreement of the UN Conference in 2015 recommends global warming drop to below 2 degrees Celsius, if possible, even to 1.5 degrees.

The good news is: Various measures are being taken by individuals, companies and countries. There are several global enterprises leading the way and setting climate and clean energy goals and standards. Apple saved 35.3 billion tons of coal from being burned last year and has worked to measure its carbon footprint and implement massive plans to reduce it. Another shining example is Ikea. In late 2019, the company announced that it was investing 200 million Euros to accelerate becoming climate positive by 2030. The largest piece of its corporate carbon footprint, at 36.4%, comes from materials, making changing how the company makes its furniture a particularly important piece of the climate strategy. Ikea has therefore analyzed all of its products to see how they can become circular, meaning that the materials can be reused in loops rather than ending up in landfills. And this is only one of many measures the company has taken.

Other global companies progressing in their energy efficiency efforts include Walmart, Google, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft. Major investors are also increasingly interested in climate protection. Only in January, Black Rock CEO Larry Fink called for more climate action and in February Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos committed 10 billion US-Dollars to fight climate change.

While climate protection is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage and international companies, investment funds and asset managers are emphasizing their climate friendliness, the German industry is rather hesitant according to a global ranking by British NGO CDP (Source: Spiegel). Only nine German companies made it into their ranking – among them Deutsche Bahn and Telekom. However, this result is also fueled by the fact that Germany has a bigger production industry than for example Great Britain, where the service sector is larger.

With respect to efforts already being made, there is no doubt that we should do more. Just this week, the German Weather Service has released new calculations for the coming years - with alarming results: The temperatures could become 1.0 to 1.5 degrees warmer throughout Germany in 2020 than the average for the reference period between 1981 and 2010.

Talking the talk is easy but walking the walk is a challenge for companies. On the one hand companies have an objective to take climate action. On the other hand, calculating the CO2 footprint is a very complex and cost-intensive process. In addition, there is usually no climate strategy in place to implement the necessary measures for CO2 reduction.

Technology can make a difference when it comes to automating this process. Based on real data, software can analyze a company's carbon emissions and offer each department specific information about its own CO2 footprint. This in turn facilitates the definition of KPIs within the company.

But technology alone will not do the trick. It will play a major role in the fight against climate change, but we also need a change in mindset and joint forces to combat this large crisis of our time. Which leads me back to my initial thought: If we are able to join forces to fight the coronavirus crisis, I believe we should be joining forces to fight global warming as well. Collectively. 

@Foto: Unsplash