Lesson Twenty-Two: COVID-19 Part 2
The coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change
RECAP: COVID-19 & THE CLIMATE
While the coronavirus pandemic and climate change are inherently different issues, they share two important characteristics: both are global crises that threaten the lives of millions. Yet only one crisis has inspired widespread, drastic action from countries across the globe. That being said…
TOP 6 CORONA-CLIMATE WINS 🎉
1) Better air is saving more people than coronavirus is killing. Marshall Burke, a researcher at Stanford University, calculated that the improvements in air quality recorded in China may have saved the lives of 4,000 children under 5 years old and 73,000 adults over 70.
2) People staying home is causing some impressive reductions. Researchers in New York told the BBC their early results showed carbon monoxide (mainly from cars) had been reduced by nearly 50% compared with last year.
3) Industry shut-downs reduce emissions. A study by specialist outlet Carbon Brief found that in China, carbon dioxide emissions have fallen by around 25 percent, and declining oil demand should push emissions down globally. Similarly, coal usage saw a 36% drop from Feb 3-Mar 1 (YoY).
4) The time is now for green stimulus packages. Green investment is an interest of Kristalina Georgieva (International Monetary Fund head) and Christine Lagarde (European Central Bank president). Regional and global bodies are considering pushing green investment incentives.
5) Low oil prices make it harder for the dirtiest oil to compete. Oil prices are at four-year lows thanks to the collapse of the OPEC + oil cartel, as Russia seeks to drive American oil shale producers out of the market. It may prove too expensive for shale companies to extract their oil in a low-price environment.
6) Minds may open for structural changes. The focus is on health and supply chains right now. But climate advocates can use current behaviour as precedent to challenge the system (eg. people working from home) once the worst of this health crisis is over.
Despite the climate wins, we are nowhere close to being in a “good place”. You should also keep in mind the following:
1) Mountains of waste: China is drowning under medical waste (often single-use items) produced by hospitals. In the city of Wuhan, it quadrupled to more than 200 tons a day.
2) Home energy use will go up: With more people staying at home consumer energy use will go up (plus the use of data and server energy).
3) Political and financial capital will be diverted: Governments will be forced to prioritize public health and struggling banks may change lending criteria (aka use the crisis to revise their green targets).
LEARNING FROM HISTORY: 2008
Let’s look at a similar climate situation: The 2008 financial crisis.
“After the global financial crisis of 2008, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production grew 5.9 percent in 2010, more than offsetting the 1.4 percent decrease in 2009."
- Helen Mountford of the World Resources Institute, 2020
Politicians need to rebuild using “low-carbon and resilient infrastructure” in any stimulus package to avoid an uptick in emissions as economies recover.
WHILE YOU’RE AT HOME
Since everyone is spending a bit more time around home, here are a few things you can do:
Meatless Mondays: Look up some yummy meat-less recipes to try out. Be playful and see if you can find dishes you can bring into your weekly routine.
Reassess your Routines: Since our routines are already changing, see where you can make some intentional updates. A few examples: didn’t hoard toilet paper? Give yourself a pat on the back for being a decent human and then order a bidet. Or, out of soap? Order something local and organic.
Fresh Air: First and foremost, practice proper social distancing. However if you're going out for walks to get some air, try to pick paths that will remind you how beautiful and powerful our planet is.
Write to your councillor, MP, or MPP: if you find yourself with extra time, a really powerful thing you can do is voice your concerns (be it health ones, or environmental ones) to your elected representatives. Never underestimate the power of your voice.
Just like the Friends theme song, I’ll be there for youuuuu 💚How are you doing with all of the changes lately? And how do you feel about the changes to the planet? Let me know!
