Sustainability – the New Normal After the Pandemic

The last year has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to surprise and to wreak huge damage. But perhaps there is another global issue that is just as urgent – namely, climate change and, as part of that, environmental sustainability.

The International Energy Agency has recently said 2021’s CO2 emissions will have the second highest increase ever, reversing nearly all the 2020 reductions. Which is somewhat surprising, not to say concerning, given the assumption that there is an axiomatic link between reduction in economic activity caused by the pandemic, which will take time to recover, and the environmental impact of such activity.

In November, the UK city of Glasgow will host the 26th meeting of the United Nations (UN) on climate change, COP26, and preparations are now well in hand for this. In this context, this month’s Currency News™ contains a number of articles about what the cash industry is doing to be good environmental citizens.