Phasing out economic recovery for the environment and climate impacts

The levels of air and water pollution across the world have seen a dip, wild life in various nations have found freedom to roam in national parks, some cities and urban areas. This is good news. We all know that it is a temporary setback as world awaits restarting of economy, hoping to rebound to business-as-usual scenario. But this respite must be consolidated by governments by revisiting the implementation of environmental and pollution norms that have been put in place to counter climate change impacts and intensify regulation before providing the impetus to restart the slumbering economy as we gear up for better economic times after the pandemic recedes. 

How the Coronavirus Pandemic is Affecting Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

Governments may tend to prioritize industries that need to be started before a total economic recovery. Transportation industry may be the first to restarted. In that event, a stringent regulation of polluting vehicles and allowing only those that have been certified as non-polluting and free of emissions to ply on the roads. Polluting industries such as leather and textiles must be permitted to reopen only if they have put in place necessary waste treatment mechanisms and also comply with requisite reporting requirements. Construction and real estate can be regulated to ensure only green buildings that meet sustainable norms are permitted to start construction. Governments need to encourage sustainable farming activities but providing sustainable transport and distribution of such produce from rural to urban areas encouraging citizens to choose such products. It is also the appropriate time to regulate manufacturing industries to ensure biodegradable and Eco-friendly packaging of products that aims to reduce the usage of plastic and unsustainable business practices. Similarly, an examination and inspection of all sectors for compliance of pollution norms prior to restarting them will go a long way in ensuring cleaner air and water for citizens. 

Carbon Emissions are falling sharply due to coronavirus. But not for long?? 

 The pandemic situation that prevails today has changed our consumption patterns to a large extent and we need to self-regulate our behavior to reduce waste, recycle and reuse products and raw materials.  Effectively we should start the cycle for circular economy. Regulatory bodies need to conduct inspections on production mechanisms, generation of waste, emission standards of all industries, mandating compliance of pollution norms at all levels within a specific time period, failing which the threat of businesses being shut down until future compliance be indicated. It is that time to ensure small and micro industries receive stimulus packages for revival with the condition that those entities that are power intensive should install standalone renewable energy units that can sustain their businesses without dependence on the main grid. 

It is also the time when the demand for power has come down substantially due to closure of businesses and related activities, but there has not been sufficient adoption of storage technology to store unused and excess power that has been generated. While, we cannot predict and expect various forms of contingencies and exigencies in our normal conduct of life and businesses, the present situation of global pandemic has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of systems that are in place across various nations. It is time to assess them and act accordingly. This is also the right time to enforce tourism standards that address ecological concerns and sustainability of ecosystems and wildlife habitats by imparting good tourism etiquette among populations. 

Coronavirus- The positive impact on Environment and Climate Change 

The above conditions to restart businesses may seem inappropriate at a time when incomes have been brought down to nil in some businesses and unemployment levels are at the highest, but we have paused a bit for the pandemic to recede. Will it be too much to ask to hold on to the pause button a little while longer to allow our planet to breathe once again and provide a better planet to our next generation and posterity. After all, the demand is only to comply with existing pollution norms to reduce air and water pollution and make the world a better place to live after the pandemic ends.