NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Covid-19 has caused an unprecedented hiatus in human activity and offered the natural environment a short-lived reprieve. Levels of toxic air pollutants have fallen, Venice’s canals are clearer—and mountain goats have even been seen on the streets of north Wales. Now, as lockdowns lift and economies grind back to life, emissions are returning to pre-coronavirus levels in some parts of the world. Will any lasting good for the environment come from the pandemic pause?

By showing how the environment improves when business as usual is suspended, the coronavirus pandemic has sharpened awareness of potential for catastrophe if global warming persists at current levels. Not only this, business leaders better understand that sustainability is more than just good ethics—it is a key part of any resilient business model. Can the recent disruption spur positive action?

The Economist’s Sustainability Week Insight Hour series will convene business leaders, policymakers and industry experts to examine the impact of covid-19 on the sustainability agenda. Can companies keep sustainability a top corporate priority? What does a climate-friendly recovery look like? Can we build back better?

Time: 2pm BST /3pm CET / 9am EDT / 6am PST