Illustration by Sam Wilson
While the days seem to merge into one and the length of time during this pandemic seems to grow longer than the 2 metres I stand from people as I wait in the queue at the shop to buy my essentials. The vast amount of information soaring through the web has been catapulting at an incredible pace, so much so that it is almost impossible to write posts on here about ‘corona news’ without the worry I’ll be writing something contradictory the very next day.
However, the thread of information shaping opinions online of how we should act after this is all over and discussions over coronavirus versus climate change all seem to be trending following a similar pattern. You see, as people continue to discuss research, vaccines and the origins of the Covid-19 virus it is only natural that issues such as climate change are brought into conversation. Climate change can have an impact on pandemics and transmission, the rate at which many diseases spread with ease has often come from travel. Well , if you think about the amount of air travel from East Asia across to Europe (including the airports travellers pass through on the way) and vice versus it was almost inevitable that a virus originating from the city of Wuhan made its way to countries such as Italy, France and of course, the UK.
Social distancing and isolation is obviously not a cure for viral pandemics. In fact, the slow of transmission was put in place to help with the unbearable additional weight the NHS is having to carry on its back due to our government’s response to the outbreak. Although, the more I am socially distanced and admittedly appreciating the hushed silence on the streets when I go for my walk or run of the day, something has become very apparent to me.
Venice has seen calmer, clearer water running through its canals. China has seen clearer skies and I have breathed in air that smells a little bit crisper than usual? It might deceptively appear as though the planet seems to be feeling better from the restricted human activity however, scientists and those with expertise in climate change research are saying this virus is a wake up call NOT an immediate long term solution for our climate. In fact almost all, if not the majority of expert opinions on the matter are drawing the conclusion that not only is the work being put in now important for dealing with the current situation but what we choose to do after this time is crucial, to not just how we deal with current and future outbreaks but also how we can help our planet to heal.
Overall, it could be argued that although disease outbreaks occur naturally around the world, our stubbornness or rather our arrogance to deal with our long term issues (climate change being a rather big one) can lead to the fate of our short term problems such as the current coronavirus pandemic. Air travel increasing rate of transmission, deforestation forcing animals to migrate allowing transmission from animals to humans, weather aiding the spread of waterborne infections, temperature changes allowing infectious agents to survive and grow and so on and so on.
So if you are sitting at home twiddling your thumbs wondering what else to do after exerting all your energy into the same routine you’ve developed over the last few days, perhaps it is time to address how your own actions now could help with climate change in addition to the current pandemic. Not only that but how those actions can be carried forward into the future after this situation is over and how you should tell all your friends that its cool because you’re saving the planet even though you can’t provide an immediate cure for a virus you may very well know nothing about (may have stretched that a bit far, but ….it is cool to save the planet).
In fact, climate activist Greta Thunberg (even if you are not a fan) made an important statement recently saying that climate change should be tackled along with coronavirus simultaneously, with the concern that amidst the chaos politicians would brush it under the rug. Obviously, there is some argument to this. Many would say that coronavirus is something that is (hopefully) short term and needs to be addressed urgently in comparison to climate change which is and has been a long term issue. I would say that climate change is a measure that should be addressed because it provides a level of risk in triggering outbreaks similar to the one we are currently witnessing. It’s like hiding an anthill under a rug and just exterminating them when they appear on top of the rug. I can only hope that if that were to happen the army of ants don’t return in anger, fire in their eyes and more alarming numbers.
At the end of it all, I believe its fair to say looking at climate change now, reflecting on where we are and how fast everything is speeding past us, a lot of this reflection can help in us making sense of where we go wrong and how we can do better to prevent or at least lower the risk of such events arising again or sooner than we predict them.
To those who are working like clockwork; from the medical staff to the researchers, the pharmacists, the shelf stackers and anyone else I have shamefully failed to mention , thank you for everything you are doing and continue to do for us all.
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