Covid-19 Climate and Carbon

Context: The post­Covid­19 world must be used as an opportunity for ensuring ecologically sustainable economic growth.

Issue involved with Climate change and Biodiversity Loss:

• Public Health Issue: 

• Loss of Biodiversity and ever-increasing human incursions: into the natural world have contributed heavily to the outbreak and spread of epidemic diseases like COVID-19.

• Increased morbidity and mortality: due to air pollution, water pollution, chemical contamination, deforestation, waste accumulation, land degradation and excessive use of pesticides.

• Increased meteorological uncertainties: Uncertain monsoon, the frequency of extreme events, the retreat of the Himalayan glaciers and the increase in mean sea levels.

• Influenced by the current economic growth: which is based on the traditional model of “grow now, pay later” model, and is unsustainable in the medium­ to long-term and dangerous to public health.

• Lack of understanding of climate changes leading to faulty solutions:  
• For, E.g. Hydro?uorocarbons, that were at one time seen as the panacea to ?x the depletion of the ozone layer, have a potent global warming potential.

Measures are taken to tackle climate change:

• Adoption of carbon neutrality worldwide: In 2018, the American State of California was the ?rst to commit itself to carbon neutrality; the European Union has set a goal with the year 2050 in mind.

• In Asia, China aims it to achieve in 2060 and, South Korea and Japan intend to achieve it by 2050.

• Indian Commitments: At the Paris climate change conference India committed to have 40% of its energy mix from non-fossil fuel by 2030 and achieve carbon sequestration (2.5 to 3 billion tonnes).

Way Forward:

• Understanding the 3 E’s: Evolution, Ecology and the Environment will be key to identifying potential pandemics.
• Massive scientific invention and technological innovation: is a must for reducing greenhouse emission.
• Shift to Renewable energy: As it opens up avenues for rearchitecting systems as a whole. This has happened, for instance, in the German electricity sector over the past decade and a half.
• Develop Climate change infrastructure: 70% of the infrastructure required in India by the year 2050 is waiting to be established.