The Covid-19 pandemic and climate change are both worldwide emergencies and remind us we are all sharing one planet, dependent so tightly upon one another in a fragile network of threads.<\/strong><\/p>\nYet whereas Covid-19 is a short-term acute crisis, the climate emergency is a long-term chronic crisis.<\/p>\n
Our experience of the pandemic is showing how fast the world can change, and that we can accept such drastic changes in our lifestyles because the threat is imminent, science is trusted and leaders are taking drastic, evidence-based action.<\/p>\n
A key question is: since leaders have now shown they are capable of such decisive leadership to enforce behaviour change when necessary, can and will the same leadership be applied in respect of the climate and extinction emergencies?<\/p>\n
The pandemic has created conditions in which emissions are reduced, smog-bound cities can breathe again, and birdsong formerly drowned by traffic noise can be heard.<\/p>\n
People won’t forget this after the viral threat has disappeared. When the traffic starts running again, visibility is once more reduced, and breathing becomes harder, we’ll remember that another life is possible.<\/p>\n
Governments are racking up huge public debts to prevent the pandemic’s spread that will need to be repaid by stimulating the economy.<\/p>\n
There are already calls from certain quarters that the need to reboot the economy trumps action on tackling the climate and extinction emergencies.<\/p>\n
These calls must be resisted at all costs.<\/p>\n
Quantitative easing is a high carbon way of doing this, and increases inequality. It must never be forgotten that we are currently on course for a 4\u00b0C global temperature rise, which would create disasters that put the current pandemic in the shade.<\/p>\n
When the pandemic has died down we will need a Marshall Plan-style reconstruction drive aligned with the best scientific advice on tackling climate change, simultaneous with leadership on behavioural change.<\/p>\n
Investment in low and zero carbon infrastructure is capital intensive and it can be used to decrease inequality and improve public health at the same time. Action on eco-refurbishment of all existing buildings, sustainable transport, renewable energy and storage infrastructure, and carbon capture should be on the agenda. All create skilled jobs whose workers will pay taxes into the public purse.<\/p>\n
A wealth tax will ensure that the burden falls on those who can most afford to bear it, and ensures that we do not end up with calls for austerity afterward.<\/p>\n
Press coverage of the pandemic has been fact based. Risky behaviour has been shamed. The even greater threat of climate change deserves the same treatment. We now know what can be done. Let’s commit to doing it.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Caption: They stayed at home. Apologies to L.S. Lowry’s painting ‘The Rush’. With factories shut, the air is cleaner. The Covid-19 pandemic and climate change are both worldwide emergencies and remind us we are all sharing one planet, dependent so… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[49,50,46,11],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8HWPV-af","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":651,"url":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/how-investing-in-the-green-economy-is-the-best-way-to-post-covid-19-economic-recovery\/","url_meta":{"origin":635,"position":0},"title":"How investing in the green economy is the best way to post-covid-19 economic recovery","date":"04\/06\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A climate-change conscious post-Covid-19 economic stimulus will deliver recovery faster \u2013 it did last time Covid-19 has changed the rules of the way we live and do business forever. Central banks around the world are trying to limit damage to the global economy by adding $5 trillion in extra credit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "climate emergency"","img":{"alt_text":"Graphs: The impacts of past economic stimuli on CO2 emissions","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theoneplanetlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wripres8-1024x569.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":676,"url":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/how-we-can-spend-our-way-to-a-better-world-through-green-jobs\/","url_meta":{"origin":635,"position":1},"title":"How we can spend our way to a better world through green jobs","date":"05\/30\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The global call to turn the tragedy of the pandemic into an opportunity for a better world is growing. But what does it mean? Last week, British Green MP Caroline Lucas said we need to \u201cdream big and bold\u201d. She summed up polls of public opinion which have found that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "climate emergency"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":788,"url":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/what-will-you-pledge-for-the-planet-for-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":635,"position":2},"title":"What will you pledge for the planet for 2021?","date":"12\/29\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"As we look to 2021, let's celebrate what we've learnt during the pandemic and vow to build on it: We're certain of the vital importance of nature to our very survival. We've seen countless acts of selflessness and learnt the value of community. We know how crucial being in nature\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "climate emergency"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":660,"url":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/we-have-an-unprecedented-opportunity-to-create-a-one-planet-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":635,"position":3},"title":"Message for Earth Day 2020: We have an unprecedented opportunity to create a \"one planet\" world","date":"04\/21\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"On April 22 as we celebrate 50 years since the first Earth Day let's pause to consider how much worse condition the planet is in than it was in 1970. Then, we hadn't even crossed the limit (in 1972) of what the planet can provide for us \u2013 known as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "climate emergency"","img":{"alt_text":"Earth overshoot explained and equation of the ecologica footprint calculation","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theoneplanetlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ecological-footprint-defined.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":683,"url":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/the-just-transition-how-the-eu-is-using-post-covid-investment-to-aim-at-1-5c\/","url_meta":{"origin":635,"position":4},"title":"The Just Transition: how the EU is using post-Covid investment to aim at 1.5C","date":"06\/09\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Europe's \u20ac540 billion recovery package is aimed at realising the Green Deal and a Just Transition Every nation \u2013 such as the UK \u2013 would do well to emulate this approach. Here's how it works: \u201cThe Green Deal is at the centre of the EU's plan for post-Covid recovery,\u201d Diederik\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "climate emergency"","img":{"alt_text":"Growth of green bonds","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/theoneplanetlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/who.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":697,"url":"https:\/\/theoneplanetlife.com\/cy\/manifesto-for-a-one-planet-recovery-stimulus\/","url_meta":{"origin":635,"position":5},"title":"Manifesto for a 'one planet' recovery stimulus","date":"06\/09\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The One Planet Centre is calling for a genuinely sustainable post-pandemic recovery package. We believe this should be aligned with the goal of maximising well-being for all within planetary boundaries. Citizens have endured so much, and we have learnt so much. We must learn from this. 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![\"L.S.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theoneplanetlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/LS-Lowry-No-Rush.jpg?resize=300%2C239&ssl=1\")
![\"L.S.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theoneplanetlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/L.S.-Lowry-The-Rush-oil-on-canvas-1964.jpg?resize=300%2C239&ssl=1\")
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