Violette Ballecer is the Northeast Regional Fellow and a sophomore at Boston University studying Environmental Analysis and Policy (BA) and Energy and Environment (MA). She can be reached at violette.ballecer@citizensclimatelobby.org
Photographs taken around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic give the world a sneak peak at how nature thrives in the absence of humanity. As people shelter in place for the safety of others, pollution decreases dramatically. For instance, in Punjab, India, people stare in awe at the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, a sight unseen for decades. For the first time in ages, the city of Beijing, infamous for its smog, is experiencing a forecast of clear skies. Some see this substantial shift as a turning point for climate change, but we must not be jaded. While these images may serve as a wake-up call for climate change-deniers, the positive does not outweigh the negative. The scenes that they depict are fleeting, and, despite the hope they inspire, any positive environmental impacts of this global crisis are unsustainable. Why?
Well, the majority of air pollution is caused by personal vehicles and factories. Cars are collecting dust in the driveways of those heeding the “shelter in place” warnings, and as a result, carbon dioxide emissions are dropping significantly. As the panic worsens, more and more people are choosing to self-isolate, perpetuating this change. Furthermore, all non-essential factories which would normally contribute greatly to greenhouse gas emissions are now unstaffed and thus out of commision for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, what happens when we all emerge from our Netflix-fueled hibernation and are forced to *gasp* put on pants again? Once life as we know it continues, pollution will revert back to its previous state.
Another important thing to remember is that we are experiencing an economic crisis. As people stop spending their money at shops and restaurants and instead save it only for truly essential items such as toilet paper and beer, economic stimulation grinds to a halt. Businesses, large and small, are at a loss as consumers stop consuming. Millions of people around the world have lost their jobs and the ability to provide for their families. On top of this, trade is also stunted due to travel restrictions. The sum of these actions, or lack thereof, will have repercussions for years to come.
People are suffering, and thousands are dead. The idea of any kind of silver lining, environmental or otherwise, amongst this mess is naïve and distracts from the gravity of our situation. Sustainability cannot be the product of hardship and mayhem, no matter how breathable the air becomes. The word itself implies a certain degree of equilibrium, the likes of which are currently eluding us. This pandemic is not curing climate change, it is simply treating the visible symptoms. The underlying disease is still very much alive.
What this crisis can bring is hope for the future: hope that the tangible decrease in pollution photographed in places like India, Italy, and China serve as a wake-up call to climate change non-believers; hope that one of the outcomes of this mess will be a push for more progressive environmental legislation; hope that we will be more conscious of how our actions impact the earth after seeing it firsthand. It is okay to hope. In fact, it is encouraged. While it is easy to take stock of our situation and be pessimistic, the entropy, or chaos, we are experiencing will eventually be reined back into order. Simply put, things will get better. If we believe Bob Marley, everything will in fact be alright.
While the positive environmental shifts we have experienced during this crisis are only temporary, we have the power to make real change. We can make clear skies and fresh air a reality if we invest in our future. In order to do this, we must throw our support behind renewable energy and transportation. If this seems intimidating, think about what you as an individual can do. What small choice can you make today that will help the planet
If this virus has taught us anything, it is that we are all in this together and that uniting for a common cause can make a monumental impact. As soon as society is back on its feet, we must take action and advocate for sustainable climate solutions which will benefit us in the long run. The way we rebuild ourselves after this pandemic will determine the kind of world our great-grandchildren inherit. At the end of the day, COVID-19 will not solve global warming, but I hope it inspires us all to get off our butts.