[OCTOBER FREE REPORT] Impact of COVID-19 on the Battle Against Climate Changeby Vyomm Khanna | 27-10-2021 06:34 |
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 The shutting down of businesses, restrictions on international travel and online modes of education have completely transformed our daily lives. By effectively restricting us to our homes, the pandemic was responsible for greatly minimising economic activities carried out by entities around the globe. This in turn has led to a major decrease in consumption of energy and fossil fuels around the world (a conclusion which is rather valid when considering that people have been trapped at home for so long). However, even though the emissions in the year 2020 were greatly reduced, it is rather unclear weather this trend will sustain itself throughout the years.  Although the pandemic greatly reduced energy costs and emissions around the globe, it has greatly increased the vulnerability of a majority of the global population - especially low-income individuals in vastly populated countries. As a result, India and Brazil face tremendous climate change risks to food security, access to shelter, and the livelihoods of their most vulnerable communities. Both also have large informal labor markets: Around 80% of India's 500 million labor force and close to 40% of Brazil's 100 million–plus labor force are estimated to be employed in the informal sector—meaning their jobs have no contract and often provide low pay, unsafe working conditions, and no social safety nets.  So, even if the numbers looked good in the year 2020, it is likely that the major blow to human resources in underdeveloped and vastly populated regions might translate to a major problem in the coming years which may play a hindrance in achieving the goals set at the Paris Climate Agreement. In order to support the community from the grassroot level, we need to facilitate myriad infrastructural changes in a wide range of diverse fields like housing, transport, production, energy, leisure and storage. The impact of COVID-19 has shown each and every one of us how sensitive the world is, which should translate to a more willing and enthusiastic attitude to implementing drastic changes no matter their cost. I truly believe that COVID-19 has shown us what can happen to the world if we are unwilling to readily adapt to the changing environment. I believe this will encourage world leaders around the globe to move rapidly towards achieving various climate goals like shifting from petrol to electric, recycling, cleaning the ocean, reducing future GHG emissions, and restoring the ozone layer. This is because we are are a momentous and pressing crossroad on our path. The actions taken in these sensitive present days will be instrumental in deciding the fate of our climate, our planet, and ultimately, humanity itself I hope I have been successful in conveying a likely possibility of what might happen in the near future. Also, I encourage you to share your own opinions in the comments as to what could happen in the upcoming years. Sources 1) https://news.mit.edu/2021/how-will-covid-19-ultimately-impact-climate-change-0129 2) https://www.rand.org/blog/2020/12/curb-climate-change-after-covid-19-fast-growing-india.html
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