By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
    Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
    September 25, 2023
    Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
    Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
    September 25, 2023
    SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
    SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
    September 25, 2023
    Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
    Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
    September 25, 2023
    HSBC plans climate tech funding push
    HSBC plans climate tech funding push
    September 25, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief
    Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief
    September 25, 2023
    Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York
    Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York
    September 24, 2023
    Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China
    Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China
    September 24, 2023
    Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues
    Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues
    September 24, 2023
    Pope Francis denounces ‘invasion’ rhetoric on migrants
    Pope Francis denounces ‘invasion’ rhetoric on migrants
    September 24, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    September 18, 2023
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    September 14, 2023
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    September 12, 2023
    India welcomes Egypt's BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    India welcomes Egypt’s BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    September 11, 2023
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma Hassan
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma
    September 6, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Opinion| What should be our priorities now and over the next 15 years?
Share
Notification
Latest News
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Business
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Business
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
Business
Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
Business
HSBC plans climate tech funding push
HSBC plans climate tech funding push
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Opinion > Opinion| What should be our priorities now and over the next 15 years?
OpinionPolitics

Opinion| What should be our priorities now and over the next 15 years?

Han-Maurits Schaapveld
Last updated: 2021/03/20 at 2:52 PM
By Han-Maurits Schaapveld 6 Min Read
Share
Han-Maurits Schaapveld
SHARE

The 14th-century Arab historian Ibn Khaldun wrote that the past resembles the future more than one drop of water resembles another. 

This may have been true once, but times have changed. We have not only an interconnected world, but also an interdependent world. The batting of a butterfly wing in New Zealand has a consequence in Europe.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shown very clearly the deeper, systemic challenges in the world. COVID-19 has compounded these challenges, particularly relating to youth, environment, inequality, but it did not create them.

It is in times of crisis that we see what societies are really made of. We see just how resilient our social fabric is. This resilience shows the same grit and stubborn optimism we will need to solve the next great challenge facing us. 

A crisis can have a cleansing experience that moves us beyond fear and grief, and helps us face the world again. To have a real and forward-looking impact on the world around us. We must use the BUILDING BACK possibilities, both financial and political, to make things BETTER.

Youth

Over the last few years, we have seen the power of young people, the strength of their voices, and the beauty of their convictions. 

As young people around the world marched against climate change, and for social justice, they managed to reshape the international agenda. This makes sense. Throughout history, change has often come from those who have the longest future still ahead of them. 

It is young people who show societies the best way forward, and so it is also to young people that we should listen. This means giving them a greater say in policy, politics and the economy. 

And that means investing more in education and youth employment. It also means providing them with an open society in which they can use their talents best, especially in regions which are home to such a large new generation. 

Climate

Like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change has enveloped us in much the same way that Ernest Hemingway once described the process of going bankrupt: ‘gradually, and then suddenly’.

Now during and in preparation for the after-COVID-19 era, never in the history of the world has there been such a vast financial stimulus to the global economy. Of course, this is primarily meant to keep the economy and our social systems up and running. 

But it can and must serves a deeper, systemic purpose too: to equip our economies and societies for the future. To this end, we must show vision and resolve, because the best way out of this crisis is through a green and inclusive economic recovery. 

If we use the current financial stimulus to this end, we can achieve more at a stroke than we have been able to do in the last three decades. To do this, we need to turn grey and scorching cities into cool and pleasant places, by literally growing green cities with trees and parks. But this will also take place by using more sustainable building materials. 

We need to shift influence on decision-making from the old to the young, as the coming generations will have to live with the consequences of our current choices. We should also improve public transport working on hydrogen or synthetic fuels. 

On this last point, it should be noted that, in February 2021, KLM flew the first passenger flight between Amsterdam and Madrid with a mix of 500 litres of synthetic fuel. We need to make old things new again, by helping businesses and consumers shift to a circular economy. 

Inequality

COVID-19 has hit poor citizens much harder than rich citizens. We can also say that it has hit countries with poor economic and political governance much harder than the others. 

These two inequalities in the world, on an individual level and on a country level, is a systemic problem that we can work on in Building Back Better. Economic governance as in balance of payments, debt ratio’s, market distortions, market interference, as well as corruption, play a big role in having, or not having, the necessary reserves to counteract the effects of any crisis and to build back afterwards. 

Economic governance also entails the necessary institutions to help citizens and the private sector in difficult times and thereafter. Political governance should be seen as in rule of law, role of civil society, existing and functioning countervailing powers, and respected and well-functioning government institutions which give citizen the trust in their leaders. 

Improving the different forms of governance will encourage that trust of citizens and enable countries to work their way out of the crisis and to Build Back Better.

Han-Maurits Schaapveld, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Egypt

You Might Also Like

Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief

Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York

Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China

Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues

Pope Francis denounces ‘invasion’ rhetoric on migrants

TAGGED: COVID-19, Netherlands
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Yevhen Mykytenko Opinion| Thank you, Daily! A brief letter from a devoted Ukrainian reader
Next Article Egypt’s International Cooperation Minister receives ‘Champions of Change’ Award Egypt’s International Cooperation Minister receives ‘Champions of Change’ Award
Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Business
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Business
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
Business
Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?