"Covid-19 is climate change on warp speed" (Wagner, Mar.10, 2020). The current pandemic has catastrophic consequences on the hospitality sector. The ways the industry currently deals with the crisis (for example, see: COVID-19 - Survival Guide for the Hospitality Industry) offers a glimpse into the crisis management endeavors in building a business case for disaster and climate resiliency. Climate emergency is not dissimilar to the coronavirus threat, whereby 'both demand early aggressive action to minimize loss" (Cobb, Mar. 12, 2020). However, with hotel companies facing an existential crisis, or large-scale downsizing, what will be left of the sustainability programs and initiatives once this pandemic is overcome? Will we be starting from scratch or is the coronavirus crisis the opportunity to implement a swift change in risk assessment and management facing the climate crisis? What are the key lessons from the coronavirus crisis on how to deal with the climate emergency?

Suzann Heinemann
Suzann Heinemann
Founder and CEO of InfraCert GmbH

The exciting question is how quickly we can get back to normal life. The longer it takes, the greater the damage will be and it will be more difficult for us to return to normal life.

We are in a positive mood and hope that we will gradually return to normal in May. 

Then, after taking the first steps back to everyday life, we will take up the issues that previously concerned us. The topic of sustainability also belongs to it. Our climate footprint will certainly look better this year due to the forced rest, but it is far from being good.

We will have to prepare better in the future. We do not know whether we will succeed, because every crisis is different and this will not happen again. People have learned to move closer together in the past few weeks, even if they were not allowed to be physically close. Aid to the neighbors, to older and needy people, has become very important and hopefully will not be forgotten so quickly.

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