Kira Vinke1 , Sabine Gabrysch1,2, Emanuela Paoletti1, Johan Rockström1,3 and Hans Joachim Schellnhuber1
Lessons from the corona crisis can help manage the even more daunting challenge of anthropogenic global warming
Introduction
Within a few months, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has brought the everyday lives of billions of people to a halt, inducing great human suffering and unexpected economic shocks. Institutional deficits, including a lack of preparedness and hesitant decision-making, are exposed as the crisis unfolds. As the parallels between this global health emergency and the climate emergency become apparent, we reflect on how global society can manage shared risks and avert emergencies.
1 Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), PO Box 60 12 03, 14412 Potsdam, Germany; 2 Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany and 3 University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany