It’s become an important moment for so many of us over the past 10 weeks: the clap for key workers at 8pm on Thursday evenings.
What began in darkness in mid-March now takes place in bright sunlight and the applause for NHS staff now embraces care workers, supermarket staff, drivers and all the essential workers who have kept things going during the weeks of lockdown.
Tonight may be the last clap for a while. The woman whose idea it was, Anne Marie Plas, has suggested it become an annual event instead. So it seemed appropriate, on this last occasion, that we shouldn’t just clap key workers, we should also clap each other.
Because over the past two months, people in Britain have made tremendous sacrifices to protect each other and particularly our most vulnerable citizens. Humanity’s inclination to be kind during the coronavirus crisis is an unprecedented, uplifting demonstration of solidarity.
More than anything, it has shown us what we are capable of doing together. We must hold on to that as we face the other challenges which threaten us all, the climate and nature crises.
All those warnings about how human beings are basically shallow and self-interested have been shown to be what they are: myths, peddled by those with a vested interest in spreading fear. The truth is that goodness is hardwired in humanity.
And it’s been on display with the hundreds of thousands of volunteers willing to risk their lives to help out, the millions of key workers who put duty and compassion above their own safety and the mutual aid movement which has brought together communities up and down our land, determined to ensure that none amongst us suffers unnecessarily or alone.
“There is an important message that all political leaders should be taking from the response to coronavirus: people are prepared to make hard choices for the common good.”
It all stands in stark contrast to our country’s leadership. And I think that’s why there is such anger over the actions of Dominic Cummings, and the pathetic defence of him wheeled out by the Prime Minister. It’s as if all those sacrifices are being thrown back in our faces.
There is an important message that all political leaders should be taking from the response to coronavirus, and that is that people are prepared to make hard choices for the common good.
I’ve lost count of the number of politicians who have said they understand what needs to be done to address the climate emergency, but they would never get public support if they tried. Well, now we know – if it’s done right, they would.
We also know that those leaders who have been open and honest and determined have saved thousands of lives; we know that governments can, if they have the will, sustain people while the economy goes through deep changes. And we know that people have shown they are willing to come together to meet a common challenge and protect those in greatest need and danger.
This is our chance to build a better future for all of us, a future where we and the climate are safer, because this pandemic and the climate and nature crises are linked. As scientists warned last month, our current destructive path has created a perfect storm for future pandemics like coronavirus.
So we must commit to a green recovery. From energy efficiency to clean transport, it’s the best way to get people back to work and build a modern, resilient economy. Our economic recovery plan can and must be our climate change plan.
Every corner of the country has shown energy and generosity in helping those most at risk. We need to tap into that, and give every part of the country the tools people need to build sustainable places and communities, sharing power, resources and responsibility.
No more top-down politics with Westminster dictating what’s right for every community. We must all be partners in designing a better future for our country.
A few short months ago, people might have said it’s not possible, it just wouldn’t work. Now we know it is, and it would.
Caroline Lucas is MP for Brighton Pavilion.