The session explored a range of critical topics related to the intersection of COVID-19, capitalism, and environmental concerns.
Participants in the Panel
- Julia Steinberger (University of Leeds, UK)
- Chantal Naidoo (European Climate Foundation in South Africa)
- Jason Hickel (Goldsmiths, University of London, UK).
Key discussions
Chantal's Insights: Chantal Naidoo's discussion centered on several key aspects, including policymaking in the context of the COVID-19 and sustainability crises, as well as the imperative of degrowth. She spoke to the need to link financial responses with sustainability policies and provided illustrative examples of the financial system.
In her presentation, Chantal discussed the practical realities of these concepts and shed light on the following insights:
- The unique vulnerability of each country, often because of past policy decisions.
- The extent to which societies are ill-prepared for crisis situations, including the inflexibility of economic, social, and financial systems.
- The potential dangers of expediency in the face of crises, sometimes leading to deadly trade-offs.
- The risks associated with conditionalities, and sacred preconditions linked to financial responses.
- The existence of innovation and ingenuity in unexpected places.
Chantal also spoke to the academic aspects of framing sustainability-related finance in the academic literature and shared valuable insights derived from data points related to crisis-imposed responses that are driving the country's energy transition.
The broader discussion within the panel revolved around the role of heterodox economics in addressing planetary disaster capitalism, as well as envisioning a post-capitalist world that embraces global justice amidst the ecological challenges of our time.
This session provided a comprehensive exploration of the complex interplay between the pandemic, economic systems, and environmental imperatives, with an emphasis on the path forward toward a more sustainable and just future.
