Is Coronavirus And Its Economic Impact A Taste Of What’s To Come With Climate Change?

Originally published in Forbes on March 4, 2020

Up until recently, the stock market has been skyrocketing while our planet is visibly sinking under the weight of human consumption. Thus, it is fascinating to watch the correction taking place under the weight of the deadly COVID-19 this week, though arguably nowhere near as economically severe as the consequences of climate change in the coming decades.

Why this incoherent situation?  Because the financial markets and the financial drivers for executives have become beholden to quantitative easing, tax cuts and short-term gains instead of the long-term sustainability of businesses based on real-world factors like unit economics, profitability potential or, climate science.  Meanwhile, the resilience of most businesses will depend on the ability of people to live, prosper, and be able to purchase goods and services in a stable physical and political environment.

There is no denying that we, humans, are a fascinating, dichotomous species with our ability to rationalize as our biggest strength, and perhaps proving to be our largest vulnerability.

At our core, we want to extend our lives on Earth as long as possible, and yet, we are letting the fragile balance that allows us to live here collapse. Why and how could we let this happen? Particularly in a supposedly world-leading country like the United States with such ingenuity, rugged individualism and collective resources? Perhaps, this is actually part of the problem.

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How Slow Lanes Can Speed Up New Mobility (And Save Lives)

Originally published in Forbes on December 4, 2018

Mobility is the word on everyone’s lips these days. I was in a number of large cities in the last month and have noticed that my conversations with local business leaders keep shifting towards discussions about the quality of and need for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have expected CEOs to address these topics - they were strictly the purview of smallish, urban bike advocacy groups and of progressive leaders in cities like Portland and San Francisco. But now, even the corporate world can’t ignore the serious returns on investment that these upgrades can generate - both in terms of human health and in terms of capital.

But the topic of bike and pedestrian infrastructure didn’t enter the zeitgeist by accident. This past spring, cities across the country - Atlanta included - woke up to a new reality as hundreds of shared electric scooters seemingly blinked into existence on sidewalks, medians, and empty lots. The urban mobility landscape was transformed overnight.

As someone who’s been heavily engaged in this space for over two decades, it’s gratifying to finally see both companies and cities working to set the bar higher for alternative modes of urban transportation. But the newfound excitement around electric scooters and the infrastructure to accommodate them has also engendered a fair share of tension and friction. Cities are resistant to the “chaos” that seems to be accompanying the launch of shared scooter and bike systems. Some see the scooters in particular as a new danger to pedestrians, or as another unwanted intervention in our lives by Big Tech. But the truth is that these scooters are one piece of the puzzle in putting our society on a new, more sustainable trajectory.

Climate change is real, and it’s happening. This recognition must be accompanied by a sense of urgency in getting people out of cars and onto bikes, trains, buses, and everything in between. But cities have a legitimate mandate to reduce chaos and keep citizens safe as well.

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