Lesson Twenty-One: COVID-19 Part 1
Why the coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change
Photo Credit: NASA’s Earth Observatory, 2020
THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID-19
The coronavirus outbreak has seen widespread changes in human behaviour. For example, companies have altered everyday operations which is reducing congestion and enhancing air quality. In contrast with the "Thunberg Effect", it is producing results that are arguably more important, immediate and effective.
In the last few weeks, we’ve seen some climate wins. NO2 (a major greenhouse gas) has dropped in China because of coronavirus quarantines, CNY, and the related economic slowdown.
Similarly, China’s discharge of CO2 fell 200 million tons (25 percent) compared to the same period last year. Trends like these can be seen all around the world - especially from the reduction in production and air travel.
THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
While watching governments respond to the crisis with the upmost vigor, a lot of environmentalists can’t help but wonder (aka they’re mad as hell) why the same hasn’t been done in the fight against climate change (considering it will be exponentially more deadly and economically significant than COVID-19).
COVID-19 should be a wake-up call to the world.
What do you think? Will COVID-19 be the catalyst we need to change the system for the better of our planet? Also please share your thoughts on all this! Always happy to chat things through!
The information about COVID-19 and the planet is still coming out, I’ll share more as I learn more.
