7 lessons leaders should

take from the COVID-19

crisis
Jan 5, 2021

The pandemic is an opportunity to rethink humanity's

future.

From better decision-making to the need for

international cooperation, here are seven things we
can learn from this crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global health crisis;

it is also a catalyst for reimagining the way we want to live
going forward. From economic systems to sustainable
development, decision-makers have an opportunity to
move away from the status quo and make positive
changes for the benefit of humankind.

Scientists can contribute to this disruption by sharing

research data that can help inform good decision-making.
We were overdue a pandemic, and the world wasn’t
prepared for it. But what can we learn from the handling of
COVID-19 that can help us prepare for future pandemics
and other shocks? Here are my top-seven lessons that
decision-makers need to take on board if we are to
survive and thrive in future crises:

1. We need more evidence-based decision-making

In a world of misinformation and political best-guessing,

scientific advice should be applied to every aspect of
society so that individuals – including politicians – can
make informed decisions based on the best evidence
available at the time. Our world should be ruled with facts
rather than rumours or myths. As we have witnessed in
the way some governments have responded to the
COVID-19 crisis, decisions made in the absence of facts
have far-reaching implications for the economy and
society. Public and private sectors should be actively
involved in formulating important decisions that create
impact, especially during times of crisis.

2. Health and the economy are interlinked

Population health is a vital pillar of a strong economy. The

total cost of the pandemic to the global economy is not
completely clear, but forecasts earlier this year predicted
a cost of 8% of real GDP. What is less well-known is that
poor population health costs the economy twice as much,
due to premature deaths and lost productive years. In a
post-COVID world, health needs to be repositioned as an
investment, not just a cost, that could accelerate
economic growth in the years to come.

3. We need more global cooperation

From sharing health data to solving global supply chain

issues, COVID-19 has reiterated the importance of
international cooperation. Despite increasing nationalism
and declining support for multilateralism in recent times,
almost nine in 10 respondents to a recent UN survey
believe that international collaboration is vital to tackle
contemporary challenges. International organizations will
continue to be instrumental in bringing stakeholders
together to achieve common goals.

4. Global health is a shared responsibility

As we have witnessed first-hand, viruses do not respect

borders. A global problem like a pandemic requires a
global solution, and it is the responsibility of every nation
to prioritize public health for the benefit of humankind.
Even at the local level, action and inaction can affect
global health. Therefore, we urgently need global
standards for health systems, as well as a process of
reviewing and governing research that could potentially
be misused in the future.

5. Education is the best future investment

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in

educational systems in several developing countries and
has made clear the urgent need for new educational
strategies. There is a need to increase funding in
education and develop effective strategies that future-
proof education from future crises. The rapid shift to
virtual classrooms has been a saviour for many children
globally, but disadvantages those who live in poverty or in
areas lacking technological infrastructure. So, future
equality in education must be closely monitored to ensure
no child is left behind in the technological revolution.
Additionally, curriculums should start including critical
thinking, so that future citizens are adequately prepared
to sift fact from fiction and able to interpret data.

6. The effective role of media and public awareness

Alongside governmental public health interventions,

public awareness of how to minimize the virus from
spreading has been a key mechanism to curb the spread
of COVID-19. Bogus remedies, myths and fake news have
cost lives, and never before have journalists had such a
responsibility to get the science right. Even though a lot of
misinformation is spread on social media, it has been
encouraging to see scientists using these platforms to
counter misinformation with fact. The UN has also started
encouraging social media influencers to help spread real
news about the pandemic.

Discover

What is the Young Scientists Community?

The Young Scientists Community, founded in 2008, brings

together extraordinary rising-star scientists from various
academic disciplines and geographies, all under the age
of 40. Their mission is to help leaders engage with
science and the role it plays in society.

The World Economic Forum trains and empowers Young

Scientists to communicate cutting-edge research and
champion evidence-based decision making, and in doing
so, helps build a diverse global community of next-
generation scientific leaders.

Each year, the Forum selects and onboards a new class of

Young Scientists, adding to the growing 400+ alumni
community. Meet the 2020 Young Scientists tackling the
world’s most pressing challenges through scientific
innovation. Get in touch to find out more about the
community.

7. A clean environment and climate change are also

global concerns

Pandemics are one of many global concerns that require

collective action. In many ways, COVID-19 has been a
wake-up call for the worldwide collaboration required to
tackle other threats, such as climate change. Pandemic-
induced lockdowns led to decreased pollution levels in
some places, revealing the stark reality of human
destruction to the planet. Therefore, humankind – more
than before – should stand together to tackle increasing
rates of pollution and its harmful consequences. Climate
change is a top global security issue, and the response
needs to match this. Global standards and laws for
environmental conservation should be reviewed at higher
global levels with better monitoring and evaluation.

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