What is the new normal? Challenges and opportunities beyond COVID-19

Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) looks to a post-COVID world and what a ‘new normal’ will entail.

Why it matters

Now, as we seem to have moved beyond the peak of the first large coronavirus/COVID-19 wave in Europe and the dramatic death toll is decreasing, people and economic stakeholders are beginning to push for a fast reduction of restrictions as a way back to a new normal. This new normal will have to account for the fact that all aspects of daily life, like working, shopping, educating children and youth, mobility, recreational and cultural activities, as well as the first steps of economic recovery, will have to be organised with an existing virus still threatening the health, and potentially lives of people until medication and vaccines will be available. We will most likely see sustained discussions between groups with conflicting interests, wishes and needs related to the balance between risks and safety, and to individual freedom, quality of life, economic and social stability. In addition, the COVID-19 crisis is accentuating already existing societal problems, particularly in the field of social justice.

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Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), June 2020

What we do

We partner with city officials to establish local risk assessments and design action plans and programmatic responses. From de-radicalisation programming to youth engagement strategies, we ensure that local responses address local needs.

Working from the ground up, we establish local coordination bodies that unite city halls, civil society educators, public health bodies, the private sector and faith leaders to identify and address community tensions. We base our success on harnessing existing and credible institutions, from social services to traditional civic infrastructure.

We galvanise mayors, city officials, local services, communities and youth, training them to play active roles in diagnosing and responding to local risk factors, creating an international repository of best practice approaches.

We help members access the latest research and best practice from across the network through our SCN Online Hub, which features stories, interviews, guides and training modules for teachers, city officials and civil society. Our SCN Hate and Extremism Mapper provides members with data, building digital observatories that correlate online risks with offline behaviour.

We act as a bridge, creating stronger working relationships between local and national governments. We also provide civil society with the knowledge, skills and resources to foster meaningful partnerships with officials in city halls.