Tel Aviv and London mayors warn against return to ‘business as usual’ post virus

Tel Aviv’s Ron Huldai and London’s Sadiq Khan have joined dozens of city mayors in warning against a return to “business as usual” should the threat of Covid-19 be vanquished.

The warning was backed by the leaders of 33 of the world’s mega-cities, including Los Angeles, Athens, Barcelona, Seoul, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires.

A statement of principle signed by the group last week pledged “to build a better, more sustainable and fairer society out of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.”

Among some of the pledges were promises to address “issues of equity that have been laid bare by the impact of the crisis”, investment in protection against future threats such as climate change, and adherence to public health and scientific expertise.

The signatories, who together represent 750 million people, are part of C40, a network of city leaders working together to combat climate change.

Former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, board president of the C40 group, said: “This task force is committed to helping city leaders as they work on economic recovery in ways that lead us forward into the future, not back into the past.

“The principles we’ve outlined will guide our efforts to develop a new normal – one that is greener, healthier, and more prosperous for everyone.”