Policy Analysis by Jana Al Hassanieh, Staff Writer

May 15th, 2020

 

Economic Shutdown

International trade and industrial production have significantly declined and consequently majorly disrupting the supply chains around the world. Governments have imposed international flight bans and travel restrictions, forcing the tourism and aviation industries to pause. Even the use of automobiles and public transportation have been profoundly limited. Many people have adapted to the urgent threat and embraced a more minimalist sustainable lifestyle. In fact, According to NASA satellite measurements,  satellite measurements, air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5 nitrate, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide levels have plummeted across cities, including major metropolitan areas around the world.

However, there is no long-term significance in these decreased emission levels as they are short-lived.

Despite the economic shutdown, as soon as the pandemic lockdown ends, industrial production will ramp back up again, possibly into much higher levels to make up for the gap. Indeed, all the temporary worldwide changes imposed on the citizens’ actions and behaviors are trivial when compared to structural changes and concrete measures actually tackling climate emergency and fighting pollution and climate change.

 

Shift in Energy Demand

This coronavirus pandemic has indeed frozen a considerable portion of the world’s economy. It has also caused a collapse in demand for crude oil leading to a drop in its price across global markets. With all of this turmoil in the energy sector, solar panels and wind turbines have evidently demonstrated to be better equipped to deal with the current situation. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand for renewable energy has been largely undisturbed by the overall drop in energy use.

 

Healthcare Waste Build-up

On the other hand, as medical equipment, disinfectants, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) wastes are extremely accumulating in this pandemic era, we become more aware of issues of solid waste and hazardous waste management and the associated environmental health concerns. Hence, environmentally sound management of the medical, household, and healthcare waste ought to be a priority in all countries over the globe, in order to minimize potential secondary effects on our health and the environment.

 

Shift in Funding Priorities

Priorities in funding have rationally shifted towards urgent medical supplies and research to deal with the current pandemic and find a possible cure. Thus, climate emergency funding has been on hold in this period.

More than this it is critical to know that the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the UN climate change conference, which was set to take place in November 2020 in the United Kingdom, has been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19. Such rescheduling of the conference has been critiqued as: why not hold it virtually? Virtual is possible and an actual present illustration is the virtual conference of the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) that has started on May 13 and is due to end on May 16, and will tackle the recovery actions to be fueled by the new long-term budget.

The consequences of such a postponement have yet to become apparent. However, countries are still due to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and ratchet up their climate action ambitions and plans despite the rescheduling of COP 26.

 

Climate Action

We have been hearing a lot about “flattening the curve” for the coronavirus outbreak in order to stabilize and slow down its spread. So why don’t we flatten the curve for climate change? Why don’t we aim to stabilize the rising global temperatures through climate change mitigation and adaptation measures?

Environmental issues and climate change should be integrated into how we frame our developing economic progress and tackling any crisis. The post-COVID-19 recovery process has to be structured around the green economy towards an all-inclusive sustainable future.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution kills approximately 7 million people every year and accounts for one-third of all deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease. Thus, deploying new green technologies and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind power, solar power, hydropower, and many more are critical for ensuring climate justice and advancing in environmental health. All in all, long-term investment in renewable energy not only helps in sustainably recovering from the pandemic but also in progressing towards the UN sustainable development goals 7 and 13 (SDG 7: affordable and green energy; SDG 13: climate action) and heading towards implementing the Paris Agreement.

 

Post-COVID-19, economic recovery measures should be promoted in complement with global low-carbon enterprises and climate-resilient frameworks. Such transitions determine the countries’ potential and eagerness for climate action. The current coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated that when states want and need to act on emergency, then individual and collective efforts instantly take place.

Power for global reforms exists; we just need the same matter of urgency from powerful states towards addressing the threat of climate change, as we have witnessed to COVID-19.

After all, when there is a will, there is a way. 

Thus, let’s seize every opportunity out there and aim to reach a sustainable inclusive green future. Let us choose alternative modes of transportation with greener commuting options, rethink our production and consumption patterns, reconsider unessential business travel flights, adopt and enforce stricter emissions restrictions…

Starting by individual day to day actions and complementing these actions with collective governmental reforms.

 

Promising Initiatives

On May 11th, an encouraging statement announced by the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, requires companies and businesses, affected by COVID-19 and that shall receive financial support, to publish annual reports on climate-related investments and financial disclosures for supporting environmental sustainability and national climate goals. Such statement advocates towards reaching a green recovery in Canada post-COVID-19.

As well, in efforts for keeping air pollution levels low, and with the upcoming COVID-19 lockdown ease decision, Francehas promised €20 million fund to boost green commuting through cycling and the United Kingdom has promised €2 billion package. Such funding is for bike repairing, training cyclists, e-scooters rental trials, and installing bike lanes. These collective efforts and constructive changes are promising initiatives by countries that are currently leading the way towards green economies.