Good news is that; some temporary environmental correction has occurred due to the onset of present pandemic / lockdown. This pattern is observed in the past also. Global disasters especially with major effects on economy, tend to drive a temporary decline in GHG emissions, only to bounce back immediately after the lockdown ends or the pandemic dilutes. For instance, the 2008 economic recession that lasted nearly for months, saw a temporary dip in Green House Gasses. Current trends in China also confirm this pattern.
However, this reduction in GHG emissions will only help us not to pump in additional CO2 in the atmosphere and is not going to bring any reduction in the already accumulated atmospheric CO2 in any manner. This is due to the fact that CO2 stays in the atmosphere for a very long period (few hundred years). In brief, Global Warming is still going to stare at us even after this partial self-cleansing by the nature. We can reduce its impact only if we continue to stay respecting the nature and follow true principles of sustainability.
It is interesting to note that USA, China, EU and UK, put together, are responsible for about 55-60% of global GHG missions (India contributes about 6.5%). These are the same countries which have been most affected the by the Covid-19. Mortality rate in these countries together is about 80% of the reported cases-(based on the Covid 19 status chart that appeared in DH, dated 12th April, 2020 and carbon brief data)
Do we learn something from this? [Mr. Trump, do you recall that you pulled out of sustainability fund saying, sustainability is a bullshit and earth takes care of itself!!]
Sustainable and compassionate living is the only answer. Dr APJ had very rightly defined sustainable living as our ability to draw a line between Greed and Need.
I take this opportunity to immensely thank our PM, Modi ji, for having been an extraordinary leader in the times of this crisis and express full solidarity.
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