Wake up call or waiting for the rebound?

Topic

The corona crisis has put a halt on environmental pollution and reduced global carbon emissions. Yet will these reductions last until the economic recovery takes off or also beyond? There are opposing signals, illustrating energy sectors and regions that will rebound and industry that will pollute even more than before the crisis. But there are also practices and policies that bind state aids and investments to rebuilding a greener economy. Much depends on current crisis management and social behaviour. Could the world listen to climatologists in the same way they are listening to virologists?

With this webinar we share insights into the crossroads the world is facing in battling a global pandemic and the climate crisis. Dutch green entrepreneur Maurits Groen, who since 40 years produces radio and TV-documentaries on sustainability and co-founded several companies, amongst others a sustainable shopping platform, a solar power company, the world’s first carbon neutral chicken farm, will talk about the impact of Covid-19 on sustainable energy. He is a firm believer that the pandemic is a wake up-call to reset our economy. His presentation will be discussed by Gerdien de Vries, climate psychologist at Delft University of Technology, who extensively published on the human failure to live up to its green pledges. The webinar closes with break-out sessions that dive deeper into triggers that may or may not help to support a sustainable economic recovery after the corona crisis.

This webinar is brought to you by the Social Innovation in the Energy transition (SIET) platform at Delft University of Technology.