Multiple crises: The cost of wasted time

Context: The impact of COVID has exposed the multiple back-breaking crises which could have been resolved earlier, if procrastination and prevarication were avoided.   

Multiple crises during COVID:

• Disproportionate effects on vulnerable: Both in the rich and the poor countries (black or brown) alike have suffered twice: lost lives and livelihoods. 

• Climate Change: multiple impacts of climate change were soon through:

• Rapidification of Cyclones: due to changes in temperature between land and sea .

• Eastern side hit by a super cyclone AMPHAN
• Western Side impacted by NISARGA

• Locust Attack: 

• Similar effects of unseasonal rain events have occurred in the past in 2018 which made deserts ideal breeding grounds of locusts.
• Danger of turning into plague: is being considered by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Reasons for Multiple Crisis:

• Procrastination and Prevarication: in learning and in implementing those lessons to build infrastructures promotes more equitable societies where the poor are not doubly hit.

• Time has been wasted in denial, and not functioning at the speed and scale that is needed.

• Worsening dystopian relationship with nature

Way Forward: 

• We are as strong as the weakest link: There is a need to solve the immediate survival problems faced by the poor and vulnerable sections throughout the world.

• Do not try to cover up the problem:

• There is a need for more information, to understand the multiple crises happening at the time.
• This will also check the authoritarian and intolerant nature of the governments.