Fun fact: Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years. Present humans evolved about 200,000 years ago. Civilization? Just 6000 years ago. If we compress 4.5 billion years into one year, that means 144 years would be equal to 1s. In other words, mankind has only been here for – wait for it- 3 seconds. Three seconds!!! Look at what we have done. Species that were here before us and with us are now leaving / have left because of us. Experts have said between 200-2000 species become extinct all during our 3 seconds stay. Leopards are gone, Gorillas, Sea Turtles, Orangutan all gone! Elephant, Rhinos, Chimpanzees gone! We named ourselves “homo sapiens” but with evidence like this, we must ask, are we really wise in our making or we are wise to design paths to our destruction? Fine, we designed machines that gave the earth a new form. We built industries whose exhausts pipes have become source of gases that not only affect humans but innocent plants. Too “wise” to notice the ocean is rising, too “wise” to notice the earth is burning. Too “wise” to know the artic is melting. To “wise” to notice that the ocean is more polluted than ever. Too “wise” to sense the air is more unclean than ever. Too wise to place present profit above the future That’s not wisdom. There’s no time better than now to distinguish between wisdom and intelligence. While intelligence speaks, wisdom listens. While there are speculations on the impact of the current pandemic on global emissions, it’s basically a halt in emission buttons and not delete. In fact, emissions are basically reduced not eradicated. While the “wise” men may be battling the novel coronavirus, we should be prepared for the inevitable consequences of climate actions. Interestingly, weeks or days after the pandemic ends, emissions could double due to the proposed increase in emissions, arising from industrial activities (Quartz news) Three months into the first lockdown in the world, the average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 416.21 parts per million (ppm), the highest since measurements began in Hawaii in 1958. Despite the sarcastic reduction in emissions, the increased quest for electricity should remind us that we are burning more fossil fuel. 64 per cent of the global electricity energy mix comes from fossil fuels (coal: 38 per cent, gas: 23 per cent, oil: 3 per cent), according to the World Energy Outlook 2019. Heating systems have been functioning as before COVID-19. None of the fundamentals have changed (such as the shift to renewable energy, public transport, deforestation). For the world to rally below the 1.5°c, what is needed is not a halt in emissions but a net zero emission as soon as possible. It is extremely far from it that 3 months of slight reductions in emission would make up for the existential threats of climate change. Let's be reminded that even under the governance of a radically aggressive emission, the Carbon in the air has its inevitable consequences. The climate fight is not to prevent the catastrophe but to reduce the level of the inevitable damages. Come to think of it, man has evolved to devise several means of fighting enemy attacks. Let's see what nuclear bomb could be used when fighting the climate menace. Humans may evade or bypass constitutional justice, climate justice is unavoidable! As the world looks towards the post-pandemic era, it is important that we critically consider the type of world we would return to. Several economists are pushing for the end to the lockdown and industries are pleading for a great return. While the hues and cries have been to return to “normal, ” we should, in actual fact, and with a huge sense of humanity consider returning to a greener world. We should no longer return to the normal! We can no longer return to “normal”! The normal where we blinded our eyes to the cries of mother nature. The normal where we closed our eyes to tears of mother earth. The normal where we listened to those who polluted our air and gave excuses for doing so. Should we return to the normal where we were so caught up in our doings, doing nothing? Albeit the normal where placed the rule of gold above the golden rule? I’m not sure it would be okay to return to the normal where what we earned was more important that what we learned from past climate crises. Returning to the normal has far more unimaginable consequences because not only would the rate of emissions increase but accelerate. It goes without saying that the rate of unemployment is becoming its worst in decades and the coming days are laden with uncertainty. With businesses and offices closed, the struggle for a better economy has become a concern among nations. Well accepted and noted! But while returning to a “normal” economy has its set backs on climate policies, it’s been pretty established that a sustainable economy is worth about $12 trillion USD and can create more than 380 million jobs every year (Unilever). Meanwhile, continuing on the current track of emissions could unleash something greater but in the reverse direction. In certain places, six climate- driven natural disasters could strike simultaneously, and, globally, damages could pass $600 trillion—more than twice the wealth that exists in the world today. The pandemic should act as the struggle between returning to the “normal” world and transitioning to a “greener world.” In an attempt to control the effects of the pandemic, governments have plans underway to release stimulus packages. Yet, the stimulus packages, if not properly administered, will strengthen a future pandemic. One that will exceed the capabilities of the government. The stimulus packages, especially the ones given to industries, have the tendency to make industries return to the “normal” and accelerate global emissions. Already, industries are requesting for relaxation of laws enforcing emissions and even as the world plans to reopen, the requests have been granted (EPA). While the Coronavirus pandemic should be a period of reevaluating climate policies, re-integrating climate laws and reconciliation of climate conflicts between countries, it is saddening that some industries see this period as bargains. Hence, this has called for the stimulus package of most governments to be a bridge between fighting the Coronavirus and Climate Change. President Emmanuel Macron recently announce stimulus plans to aid the French aviation industry. This, however, laid great example as the new funding was tied to carbon reduction (Air France). Chile has plans to peak emission by 2025 with strengthened climate policies. The plan includes phasing out coal power, proliferating electric vehicles, increased tree-planting, and reduced tree-cutting. (Chile Climate News.) Although, these actions come at a cost especially during this period of uncertainty, the benefits extend to the future. Hence, it is imperative that as the world battles and prepares for the post-pandemic era, leaders at various level should strike the balance between returning to the “normal,” and transitioning to a greener world. The coronavirus has reminded us that prevention is rather better than cure and we shouldn’t wait to see the effects of any pandemic before we respond. Both the Coronavirus and Climate change are global issues. But even as the world leaves the trap of the virus, climate justice has turned out to be inevitable. The beginning of the post-covid era shouldn’t mark the end of climate policies. Let’s be reminded that climate change is a global crisis that has called for a global response. As a result, in order to prevent global suffering, we must assume global responsibility. Because the problem isn’t environmental destruction, deforestation, animal extinction or global warming. The problem is US! Caused by US! Symptoms of US! By-products of US! Then, no matter what we are fighting for –be it terrorism, racism, feminism, gay rights or any form of equality, it won’t matter if we don’t all work to save mother nature, we would all be extinct. Happy World Environmental Day Celebration!! AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.
1 Comment
FOLASADE Adeboye
6/4/2020 11:04:35 pm
Wow
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