Leading sustainability expert warns that COVID-19 unrest signals the onset of broader climate catastrophe. He's the author of a widely debated 2018 research paper that ignited global discourse.
Jem Bendell, Professor of Sustainability and Founder of the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria (UK), frequently shares insights on climate developments. In 2018, he released Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy (PDF in English / 31 pages), a provocative paper blending collapsology with calls for urgent action.
Bendell argued for sweeping societal shifts to counter accelerating climate change, warning of potential civilization collapse within a decade without intervention. In a Bloomberg interview on March 28, 2020, amid COVID-19 news, he stated: "In modern industrial societies, the fallout from Covid-19 feels like a dress rehearsal for the kind of meltdown that climate change is likely to bring. This crisis reveals the fragility of our current way of life."
Bendell highlights climate disruptions like wildfires as key drivers altering animal migration patterns—and indirectly fueling pandemics. Species are shifting to cooler regions, increasing human-wildlife contact and virus spillover risks.
He insists ongoing pollution will amplify future outbreaks. While critics like Michael Mann, Professor of Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University (USA), label these views as excessive catastrophism, others concur. The Guardian reported in October 2019 on Mark Carney, former Bank of England Governor, who urged preparing for climate-induced systemic collapse. Consensus grows that without bold action, climate impacts will devastate ecosystems and societies alike.
