Today we face the gigantic task of protecting the lives of hundreds of thousands, health of millions and the livelihood of billions. As we continue to fight the pandemic globally, we need to recognize and seize the opportunities to create a new, resilient, healthy society which can exist in harmony and in equilibrium with nature.
The 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report reveals what many of us already know; we are not on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and calls for significant action. However, with COVID bringing the world to a standstill, it is difficult. COVID-19 is an unpleasant yet important lesson on the complementarity between the various components of sustainability – from ecosystem integrity to healthcare and the socio-economic prosperity that follows. Our reaction to this pandemic has to be all inclusive,and focusing on the long-run.
When the spread of the virus is contained, the global economy will bounce back. The International Monetary Fund predicts 5.8% global economic growth in 2021 as activity normalizes. We are observing that countries that have been hit hard by the pandemic-induced economic slowdown are trying to revive the economy and create employment opportunities. This economic revival is crucial but shouldn't be done at the cost of the environment. Government policies are a deciding factor when it comes to the focus of a country on its sustainability and ecological footprint. However, the youth plays an important role in ensuring Sustainability post COVID-19.
There is a general agreement that after COVID-19, we will live in a "new normal." What type of normal this is, is upto us to decide. And while we wait for a sense of routine to be added to our lives, we should remember and analyze the ‘old normal’ in which we lived before and why it was problematic. Our economic model based on carbon consumption was fragile, and the planet was already suffering from climate change.
We are the catalysts of a resilient and inclusive society as we play a huge role in mitigating the disruptions caused by the crisis and further ensuring we don't return to the same normal. During the lockdowns, there has been tremendous momentum to sustainable practices like thrifting and upcycling. The youth is also taking up activities like gardening which not only benefits the bees in our backyard but also helps us destress in these unprecedented times. 2020 saw some of the biggest online activism and it is imperative that we continue protesting for the environmental cause by signing petitions, emailing our state officers and supporting local campaigns that are advocating for climate justice. Decreasing individual energy consumption significantly impacts the ecological footprint.
Along with these individual practices, we need to urgently call for action and hold policy makers and corporates accountable for their environmentally-degrading practices. The defining political debate today is whether we are returning to pre-coronavirus contentment or improving on what we have understood from the pandemic on what public policy should do for a decent and sustainable society to resolve the contemporary concerns. Public processes for deliberating on agendas for post-pandemic reconstruction could mobilize social capital, created by the shared experience of environmental vulnerability and economic priority, so as to plan for much more ambitious policies on climate change and inequality (Tekdemir, 1).
In totality along with strengthened scientific research and effective technological applications, a pro-active citizenry would be crucial for a sustainable normal after the pandemic. The roadmap needs to be initiated by us, in consultation with experts and including all stakeholders. The pandemic might come to an end, but it's only the beginning for setting in motion a new model for the sustainable future.
Works cited:
Tekdemir, İpek. “Sustainability after COVID-19: An Opportunity That Should Not Be Missed.” Daily Sabah, Daily Sabah, 9 June 2020, www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/sustainability-after-covid-19-an-opportunity-that-should-not-be-missed.
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