I have been giving several workshops over the past months on the SDG sustainable development goals and the picture of the priority in circles of the SDGS have come back to me several times.
Legend: The largest circle are the planetary boundaries; within these boundaries, the second circle of people needs, and within that boundary the economic human activity. The last area of human activity is dependent on the viability of the two previous circles.
People needs
With the Corona virus the second circle with SDG 3 health focus is claiming its importance and put under stress. The underinvestment in healthcare facilities is painfully shown.
The human (economic) activity circle (SDG 7, 8, 8, 11) is shrinking at a rapid stage, due to measures to reduce the speed of spreading of the Corona Virus like quarantine: reduced industry, reduced transport, stockmarkets plunging, restaurants and bars closed,...
One could easily see now the interlinked effects, and argue that this shock gives an important warning to all of us that economic activity is secondary to people needs. This has been forgotten for too long time, and even with crisis response, the governments have been hesitating a lot to preserve economic/financial activity and putting health in second priority only. Now governments take action on the people needs circle: SDG3 health, SDG1 (minimum salary for all).
Planet needs
Several studies indicate the better air and water quality. It seems that this crisis is giving the nature and planet a break on the stringent economic activity. Temporarily at least.
People and planet?
in my view we are in the boiling frog (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog) paradigm for the moment:
- corona health crisis: 'water boiling fast' -> fast reaction regarding people needs
- planet limits : ' water boiling slow' ;a typical issue where slowly the water boils and at a certain point too late al the frogs are boiled; > slow reaction towards planet needs
Planet emergency
A lot of organisations have talked about a planetary emergency, and have received a lot of criticism. Maybe they should be heroes like the nurses are for this crisis.
Realignment
This crisis will need to make us all conscious that we need to rebalance our human (economic ) activity to fit in the people needs and larger the planetary emergency needs.
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