"Fridays for Future" activists protesting in the streets, Greta Thunberg in Davos, the bushfires in Australia — the start of the year was dominated by the climate crisis. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit and brought the world to a standstill. As it slowly starts turning again, voices are growing louder calling for a "green recovery" of the economy. What's been crucial in tackling the pandemic applies even more so to the climate crisis: "flattening the curve".

In early April, shortly after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, the UN warned that the international community's efforts to combat climate change must not let up. There were concerns at the time that some countries would scale back their efforts.

The warning doesn't seem to have gone entirely unheeded. Just over two months later, discussions are under way at EU level about linking the 750 billion euro economic stimulus package to climate protection targets. A CO₂ border tax could serve as a new source of revenue for the EU.

Here at home, efforts were made to at least attach some green accompanying measures to the AUA rescue package, by linking it to an increase in the flight ticket levy and a nationwide public transport ticket at three euros a day — undoubtedly not enough for climate protection advocates.

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