Estimated reading time: 7-9 minutes
COVID-19 has created a human tragedy on a huge scale, with deep consequences
for the global economy that will lead to an extended recession and long-term hardship.
This foreshadows the greater challenge we face in the years to come as the climate crisis escalates. Already, droughts, tornadoes and floods are threatening the lives and livelihoods of far too many people around the world, yet we are not doing nearly enough to deal with it.
As our thoughts move towards recovering from COVID-19, we must create a more resilient system that that ensures the health and safety of all people. We must make sure that we are stronger in the face of the challenges to come. And we must do so without delay.
The only way to do this is by re-imagining our relationship with the natural world. We need to entwine social, environmental and economic progress, and decouple economic growth from unsustainable consumption, while driving concrete and collective actions that speed up the adoption of the circular economy and realize systematic change.
A visualization of the circular economy in action
Image: Ellen MacArthur Foundation
CEO Royal Philips
Frans van Houten is CEO of Royal Philips. He is also Chairman of the Board of Management and the Executive Committee.
Click here to read more on Frans van Houten
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