2020 – A Year in Reflection

When we rang in 2020 almost 12 months ago, who would have thought, that this eagerly-anticipated decade would take an unexpected turn and ultimately become synonymous with the destructive outbreak that is coronavirus.

But while we understandably struggle to see a positive side to this pandemic, as it persists to assault our normality and devastate lives, our planet has inadvertently become the unlikely beneficiary of the catastrophe. As the old saying goes; every cloud has a silver lining. Upon reflection of this year, a number of positive effects came to light, that are significantly impactful to our lives and the planet. These outcomes could potentially continue to affect change going forward, post pandemic.

Fresh air, clear minds

Pre-coronavirus, air pollution killed seven million people worldwide a year, says the World Health Organisation (WHO). But this year, while air pollution has intensified the pandemic as breathing polluted air worsens the Covid-19 symptoms, the worldwide lockdowns and sudden reduction in mobility due to the pandemic has —temporarily—cleaned the skies.

 

Pollution levels in China in 2019, left, and 2020. 
Photograph: Guardian Visuals / ESA satellite data

In response to the current Covid-19 pandemic and with countries suspending transport and millions of people put in lockdown to flatten the curve, global air pollution has significantly dropped, with carbon monoxide emission reduced by more than 50%.

This pandemic-driven clearing of the air is no doubt short-lived, as already demonstrated by China, where pollution has returned to its pre-coronavirus range as soon as normality resumed its pace. But the recent respite from air pollution due to widespread shutdowns may have offered valuable lessons for the kind of world we want to build post-pandemic. It also proves how fast we can decrease pollution and improve the quality of our health, when we reduce our burning of fossil fuels.

World at our fingertips = reduced carbon footprint

While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten millions of lives worldwide, the first half of 2020 saw an unprecedented decline in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – larger than during the financial crisis of 2008, the oil crisis of the 1979, or even World War II. An international team of researchers has found that in the first six months of this year, 8.8 percent less CO2 was emitted than in the same period in 2019 – a total decrease of 1551 million tonnes. The ground-breaking study not only highlights Covid-19’s impact on global energy consumption than previous analyses; it also suggests what fundamental steps could be taken to stabilise the global climate in the aftermath of the pandemic. – Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK

Back in April, Carbon Brief analysis suggests the pandemic could cause emissions cuts this year in the region of 1,600m tonnes of CO2 (MtCO2)

In addition to reduced carbon footprint, lockdown has also illuminated the fact that travelling for business or pleasure can be unnecessary. The power of digital platforms to connect and communicate has given us the freedom and ability to work, shop, meet and learn, among others, remotely. Going forward, this newfound practice should help us make responsible and sustainable choices.

Greener habits spark creative minds

One of the challenges of lockdown was the limited supplies and resources available to us. From toilet roll stockpiling to nappy panic-buying to flour war, we saw it all. Such limitation has forced and encouraged us to think outside the box and be creative. There was that banana loaf explosion on social media where whipping up over-ripe bananas into gorgeous baked goods rather than binning them became a thing. We basically learned to turn fresh produce scraps into delicious meals to avoid being wasteful.

Instagram Sources: @nadiyajhussain, @swift_betty and @naturally_nynke

A vast majority is also known to have tried their green thumbs at gardening which is not only great for growing our own foods but also mentally therapeutic. Instead of buying new furniture, we have been inspired to upcycle existing pieces. Creativity levels in various sense are through the roof and learning new skills has become fashionable. Time was an endless gift then. With shops operating on limited capacities coupled with financial uncertainties, we become more appreciative of our existing possessions, which encourages sustainability and slow fashion. This aligns with London’s first ever Repair Week goals back in October, which was devised to inspire and teach people to fix more of their things in order to reduce buying and minimise waste.

Suffices to say, coronavirus is actively making us examine our values. As it turns out, we can survive on less – a lot less. If we are being truthful to ourselves, there is enjoyment to be had from a simpler life.

A chance to reflect and reconnect

As the world came to a sudden pause in the first half of 2020, we were unintentionally introduced to slow living. Some have been fortunate enough to be able to work from home, completely omitting the hassles of commute from their daily equation. For some, this massively reduces their stress levels. The limited option of leisure activities available to us has also driven us to find joy in our daily permitted stroll and outdoor exercises, compelling us to notice all the little things we took for granted during our fast-paced lives pre-coronavirus.

It was a chance to bond with the people in our bubble and strengthen relationships. Contrary to most belief, the inability to meet with family and friends has actually deepened our bond as we strive harder to connect with each other via social media and other means of remote communication. As an indirect impact, we become increasingly appreciative of our relationship with others as we continue to check in on each other more than usual during these trying times. It has also been a period of strengthening of humanity as we practise compassion upon those around us, helping and supporting each other, be it by shopping for necessities or emotional boost. Slow living has granted us time to reflect on our lives and in some ways help us reconnect with humanity, each other and nature.

To date, coronavirus continues to plague us, but one thing remains certain is that we have learned so much this year. With the world slowing down, our planet gets to heal. We now know that we are capable of absolutely anything and changing our habits positively if we put our minds to it.

 

 

 

 

 

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