Covid-19 and Climate change: Lessons to rise parallel

Article by: Kshitiz Kandel                Edited by: Pralhad Gupta

What is a coronavirus disease or COVID-19? Is there a vaccine, drug, or treatment for COVID-19? How is it impacting the Global System? And more…Hundreds of queries are veering from person to person from a region to another around the globe lately. Every day we account COVID-19, each and every minute detail; total infection, fatalities, recovery, fatality rate, recovery rate, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the prosperity and integrity of the global community and economy. The decades of development and sustainability are on the verge of collapse in days or months. Not only do we talk and analyze the future consequences, we predict the unpredictability as well. Oh, wow! What a concern! This is simply amazing.

Nevertheless, have we ever considered about the pandemic that humans have spread into mother nature? Have we ever spent a single moment accounting the consequences of global Climate change? A fun fact! Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and mankind…about 140 thousand years. If we condense the Earth's life span into 24 hours, one full day, then we have been here on this planet for 3 seconds. In just 3 seconds, look at what we have done to our world. We’ve created nuclear war fear, smog pollution, carbon emission, forest clearance. We’ve increased the extinction of our endangered flora and fauna by 1000 times the average rate. Species that have been here longer than us will be gone because of us. The earth system that was running in a stunningly balanced way will be devastated because of us, in this 3 second. So, it’s high time we realize before it's too late to think about Climate change. It is up to us to care for this planet, which is our only home. We must learn lessons from these crises. We need to rise parallel to COVID-19 and Climate change. COVID-19 makes us realize that forced actions are capable of justice to the Environment. Climate actions are possible in time. Ecologically, decades of environmental pollution and hazards are about to be controlled in this small-time scale. It is just within few months of lockdown around the globe, planet Earth seems healing. Mountains and horizon are seen crystal clear from distant never seen before. Rare and endangered wild flora and fauna are recorded to thrive. The ozone layer is historically recorded healing, in which billions of dollars and projects could possibly not succeed. People have seen vivid clear blue sky and night aurora. Many have enjoyed usually clear skies and fresh air.  Isn’t this quite surprising? Could we call this justice to the system? How appropriate is it to rename this as a climate action? Well, what so ever, it’s calls of urgency to rise from these crises together. We must rise to both emergencies in parallel.

(Google, DAILY SABAH, retrieved on 06-26-2020)

(Google, DAILY SABAH, retrieved on 06-26-2020)

The novel human coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has become the fifth documented pandemic since the 1918 flu pandemic. The global community is fighting the best possible against the pandemic at present. UN bodies are bringing scientists, experts, and policymakers addressing the COVID-19 crisis around the world. WHO is connecting the global health professionals and researchers to contain the virus. Global leaders are struggling with the responsibilities they need to offer their country. The world now has two challenges to tackle together, we have two equally significant responsibilities. First, contain the recent virus and prevent it from happening again. Second, comes with an action on climate change. The Covid-19 pandemic is an immediate case in point for now. We need to save lives now while also save our planet at the same time. The first point is more pressing, but the second has significant long-term consequences. That's the reason why it is essential to emphasize the interconnectivity between COVID-19 and climate change. Reports have shown that disasters from the impacts of climate change can exacerbate the COVID-19 crisis. Cyclone Harold, in the Pacific continent, forced the struggling public system to reopen its border pressing from the COVID-19 disasters. Likewise, damages and loss of lives in the Solomon Islands, such as Vanuatu and Fiji, are unprecedented. The Guardian reports, ''A new record set so soon after the previous record of 17.5C in March 2015 is significant warming in Antarctica is happening much faster than global average''.

Similarly, Earth’s warming trend continued in 2019, making it the second-hottest year in NOAA’s 140-year climate record just behind 2016. The World Meteorological Organization in The State of the Global Climate in 2019 Report confirms that the modern world has surpassed 1.1°C of global warming. It is above the pre-industrial level, and weather extremes, severe cyclones, and storms will be the new norm in this entire decade. Without urgent action, we will likely reach the 1.5°C threshold as early as 2030. Additionally, there are a series of disasters and hazards that are induced because of climate change. Loss of snow mass, sea-level rise, more intense heat waves, more frequent wildfires, more extended periods of drought, extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations, and habitat! On a bright note, Climate change exacerbates the COVID-19 crisis! How long, how far? So, it is a global urge to collaborate and prevent COVID-19 and climate change at the same time.

On the one hand, the world needs to accelerate work on treatment and vaccines for COVID-19. Climate actions need to be implemented vigorously, on the other side. These are the real-time actions that help contribute to the solutions we need.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the climate change crises are interconnected and cross-cutting – both require a comprehensive and systematic approach. There are certain things impacted by the disaster. But this is not time we lag behind because of this A-Once-in-a-Century-Pandemic. We must respond to it firmly and fight back sustainably. We need to realize that taking care of our Earth system is itself effective prevention against the crises. The climate change-induced disaster is a crucial reminder that notwithstanding the threats and impacts of COVID-19, climate change remains the biggest threat to humanity. So, let’s take this as an opportunity to consider the climate-smart response and recovery measures. This is a chance for nations to plan better and to shape 21^st-century environments and societies in ways that are healthy, clean, safe, and more resilient. As we continue the fight against COVID-19 and climate change, we must review and strengthen our policies. We must address both of the crises actively and equally with urgent attention. We must act right now and make a commitment to building back climate-smart societies and economies. We must consider the carrying capacity of the Earth. We must make sure that vulnerable regions will not suffer from the ‘tragedy of the commons.' We must strengthen the resilience of our home planet, our neighborhoods, and people. We must come out of these crises stronger. Let's join our hands against the global pandemic to make this planet for all of us to live on. We will!

Written by: Kshitiz Kandel

Edited by: Pralhad Gupta