• About Us
  • Our Practice Areas
    • Banking & Financial Services
    • Competition & Antitrust
    • Digital & Tech
    • EU & International
    • Food & Drink
    • Green Transition
    • Healthcare, Life Sciences & Wellbeing
    • Trade & Investment (including EU-UK)
    • Transport, Travel & Logistics
  • Our Team
    • FIPRA International
    • Special Advisors
  • FIPRA Network
  • Latest News
  • Events
  • Careers
Skip to content

FIPRA

Search for:
Events

Covid19 has provided temporary relief, but not cancelled climate change

Monday, 22 June 2020
Covid19 has provided temporary relief, but not cancelled climate change

In a webinar co-hosted by the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union, the Environmental Bureau and FIPRA International on July 16, the esteemed panel discussed the impact that Covid19 measures have on our health and our environment. 

The event ‘Lessons learned: tackling pollution for a green recovery‘ considered what lessons we can learn from the current situation and how those lessons inform future policies to decarbonize and detoxify our economies and societies.

Air pollution rates are recovering to their old numbers. What it takes to keep momentum is global leadership. Global policies really can have an effect.

– Pieternel Levelt

Pieternel Levelt, professor at the Technical University of Delft, presented satellite pictures that show sharp air pollution drops during lockdown. She made a case for pollution rates to remain low. In the short term, this will have positive effects on life expectancy. In the long term (decades), this might mitigate climate change. 

“Satellite pictures, however, show that air pollution rates are recovering to their old numbers. What it takes to keep momentum is global leadership. Global policies really can have an effect, the Montreal Protocol being an example,” Levelt said.

Leonardo Trasande, professor at the New York School of Medicine, says pollution makes us more vulnerable to Covid19. Scientists found an 8% increase in mortality for each microgram of fine particulate matter. Exposure to synthetic chemicals does not make treatment easier, causing disruptions to hormone and immune systems. 

Pollution makes us more vulnerable to Covid19. To truly grasp the cost of inaction, we need more data. Without data, we fly blind.

– Leonardo Trasande

Policy makers must act. Not doing so will come at great cost. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) cost 163 billion euros annually (1.2% of the European GDP). This figure is based on less than 5% of known EDCs, meaning it is an underestimate. To truly grasp the cost of inaction, we need more data. Without data, we fly blind, Trasande underlined.

What we need is for different policy fields to interact with each other and for the European Green Deal to be implemented, flanked by an ambitious green investment program.

– Hans Bruyninckx

Hans Bruyninckx, executive director of the European Environmental Agency, says that the positive environmental effects of lockdown can be seen across the board. In addition, we learned a thing or two about our own vulnerability and our disturbed relation with nature. 

However, lockdown is not the way to reach long-term sustainability because the cost to society is way too high. What we need is for different policy fields to interact with each other and for the European Green Deal to be implemented, flanked by an ambitious green investment program. “If policy makers do not do it now, society will have to pay twice; once to climb out of this economic crisis and once when the economy is back to normal,” Bruyninckx said.

Veronica Manfredi, Director Quality of Life at the European Commission, highlights that epidemiologists had been warning us about the risk of a pandemic for years, due to our completely rotten relationship with nature. Ideally, we would have been better prepared. We must do better in the future and act now to prevent future disasters. 

Covid19 has not canceled climate change and as such has not solved the root of the problem. We need to act now for a healthy planet. It sounds a little bit naive and idealistic, but this is exactly what we need. We have the money and we have the brains. Now let’s do it.

– Veronica Manfredi

On behalf of the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union, the Environmental Bureau and FIPRA International, we thank you for your interest in our event. We plan to organize another webinar in July in which we will dive deeper into the European Chemical Strategy for Sustainability – due to be presented in September 2020.

Learn more about our team

FIPRA’s Green Transition, Energy & Industrials team provides expertise to help clients navigate the inner workings of EU institutions such as the Commission, Council, and Parliament.

Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment
We advise on the implications and opportunities offered by policy initiatives in this field and are committed to making EU legislation deliver for our clients' business cases.
More
Latest News
  • News
    Gerd Götz joins FIPRA as a Special Advisor on Green Transition
    17 March 2023
  • Analysis
    PFAS: rooting ambitions for a toxic-free environment in a manageable process
    10 March 2023
  • News
    Erwin Dhondt  joins FIPRA as a Special Advisor for Health Security
    22 February 2023
  • Analysis
    EU’s small but vital step to shipping decarbonisation: the maritime ETS 
    9 February 2023
  • Analysis
    European Parliament’s New Year Resolution: build a powerful but child-friendly online gaming industry
    19 January 2023
  • FIPRA in Australia
    FIPRA in Australia
    is known locally as Richardson Coutts
    FIPRA in Australia
  • FIPRA in Austria
    FIPRA in Austria
    is known locally as Mastermind Public Affairs Consulting
    FIPRA in Austria
  • FIPRA in Belgium
    FIPRA in Belgium
    is known locally as Greenlane Public Affair
    FIPRA in Belgium
  • FIPRA in Canada
    FIPRA in Canada
    is known locally as Earnscliffe Strategy Group
    FIPRA in Canada
  • FIPRA in China
    FIPRA in China
    is known locally as Yuan Associates
    FIPRA in China
  • FIPRA in Croatia
    FIPRA in Croatia
    is known locally as Vlahovic Group
    FIPRA in Croatia
  • FIPRA in Czech Republic
    FIPRA in Czech Republic
    is known locally as PAN Solutions
    FIPRA in Czech Republic
  • FIPRA in Denmark
    FIPRA in Denmark
    is known locally as European Advisers
  • FIPRA in Estonia
    FIPRA in Estonia
    is known locally as META Advisory Group
    FIPRA in Estonia
  • FIPRA in France
    FIPRA in France
    is known locally as Cabinet Samman
    FIPRA in France
  • FIPRA in Georgia
    FIPRA in Georgia
    is known locally as BGI Advisory Services Group
    FIPRA in Georgia
  • FIPRA in Germany
    FIPRA in Germany
    is known locally as Miller & Meier Consulting
    FIPRA in Germany
  • FIPRA in Greece
    FIPRA in Greece
    is known locally as One Team S.A
    FIPRA in Greece
  • FIPRA in Hungary
    FIPRA in Hungary
    is known locally as CEC Group
    FIPRA in Hungary
  • FIPRA in India
    FIPRA in India
    is known locally as Chase India
    FIPRA in India
  • FIPRA in Ireland
    FIPRA in Ireland
    is known locally as Vulcan Consulting
    FIPRA in Ireland
  • FIPRA in Italy
    FIPRA in Italy
    is known locally as Telos A&S
    FIPRA in Italy
  • FIPRA in Japan
    FIPRA in Japan
    is known locally as GR Japan
    FIPRA in Japan
  • FIPRA in Korea
    FIPRA in Korea
    is known locally as FIPRA Korea
  • FIPRA in Latvia
    FIPRA in Latvia
    is known locally as Meta Advisory
    FIPRA in Latvia
  • FIPRA in Luxembourg
    FIPRA in Luxembourg
    is known locally as Huggard Consulting Group
    FIPRA in Luxembourg
  • FIPRA in Malta
    FIPRA in Malta
    is known locally as Maritimus Company Limited
    FIPRA in Malta
  • FIPRA in Mexico
    FIPRA in Mexico
    is known locally as InStrag
    FIPRA in Mexico
  • FIPRA in The Netherlands
    FIPRA in The Netherlands
    is known locally as Public Matters
    FIPRA in The Netherlands
  • FIPRA in Norway
    FIPRA in Norway
    is known locally as First House
    FIPRA in Norway
  • FIPRA in Poland
    FIPRA in Poland
    is known locally as CEC Group
    FIPRA in Poland
  • FIPRA in Portugal
    FIPRA in Portugal
    is known locally as Initium
  • FIPRA in Singapore
    FIPRA in Singapore
    is known locally as Landmark Public Affairs
    FIPRA in Singapore
  • FIPRA in Slovakia
    FIPRA in Slovakia
    is known locally as FIPRA Slovakia
  • FIPRA in Slovenia
    FIPRA in Slovenia
    is known locally as MC Public Affairs S.a.r.l.
    FIPRA in Slovenia
  • FIPRA in South Africa
    FIPRA in South Africa
    is known locally as Ethicore Political Lobbying
    FIPRA in South Africa
  • FIPRA in Spain
    FIPRA in Spain
    is known locally as Influence Spain
    FIPRA in Spain
  • FIPRA in Sweden
    FIPRA in Sweden
    is known locally as Hallvarsson & Halvarsson (H&H)
    FIPRA in Sweden
  • FIPRA in Switzerland
    FIPRA in Switzerland
    is known locally as Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
    FIPRA in Switzerland
  • FIPRA in Tunisia
    FIPRA in Tunisia
    is known locally as Mediterranean Development Initiative
    FIPRA in Tunisia
  • FIPRA in Turkey
    FIPRA in Turkey
    is known locally as Stamina Public Affairs
    FIPRA in Turkey
  • FIPRA in Turkey
    FIPRA in Turkey
    is known locally as Stamina Public Affairs
  • FIPRA in Ukraine
    FIPRA in Ukraine
    is known locally as Stober Poltavets & Associates
    FIPRA in Ukraine
  • FIPRA in the United Kingdom
    FIPRA in the United Kingdom
    is known locally as Lexington
    FIPRA in the United Kingdom
  • FIPRA in the United States
    FIPRA in the United States
    is known locally as Alpine Group
    FIPRA in the United States
FIPRA Network

FIPRA

© FIPRA 2023.
All rights reserved.

Follow us on Twitter  Find us on LinkedIn

  • Privacy Policy
Explore
  • About Us
  • Our Practice Areas
  • Our Team
  • FIPRA Network
  • Latest News
  • Events
  • Careers
  • FIPRA Tools
  • Contact Us
Practice Areas
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Competition & Antitrust
  • Digital & Tech
  • EU & International
  • Food & Drink
  • Green Transition
  • Healthcare, Life Sciences & Wellbeing
  • Trade & Investment (including EU-UK)
  • Transport, Travel & Logistics
Contact

info@fipra.com

Brussels Office  map
FIPRA International SRL
Rue de la Loi 227
Brussels 1040
+32 (0)2 613 28 28
Company number: 0733.774.811

London Office  map
FIPRA International Limited
201 Borough High Street
London
SE1 1JA
+44 (0)203 805 7770
Company number: 3936157