The 5th June is celebrated as a World Environment Day. In a year such a this one we should stop and consider what is the current World climate situation. 2020 hasn't been the brightest year we have seen so far. In January wildfires devastated Australia, in February COVID-19 pandemic spreaded all over the World, in June riots sparked all around the World for the murder of George Floyd by the end of a police officer in Minneapolis. "The Times They Are a-Changin'" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released in 1965. It's been written by Dylan as an attempt to create an ananthem of change for that specific historic period. Looking back at the 20th century, humanity has consistently prospered. The average person today, has a higher income, poverty levels lowered significantly and life expectation si way longer than our ancestors.
In a 'romantic' way Covid-19 could be seen as the nature urging us to change. The coming decade could become a turning point for humanity, it's up to us decide which direction we will take. After the lockdown many industries have to reinvent themselves in order to survive. It will be crucial the way Governments will make policies fo the restart. Some good initiatives have been taken already such as granting bonuses to switch to bicycles rather than cars or public transports or governments funds for building renovations that will increase energy efficiency.
The price of evolution
All these achievements and improvements came with a cost. Our actions resulted in a profound degradation of the biosphere and an extensive biodiversity loss. 2019 assessment carried out by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) showed a decline since 1970 in 14 of 18 categories of nature’s contributions to people (water and air quality and disease regulation to name a few). These pace is unsustainable. Researchers suggest that keeping these living standards with our current economic systems, we would need 1.7 Earths. Planet's ecosystems are reaching little by little the saturation point. Ocean temperature has consistently increased in the last decade, destroying for instance half of the shallow water corals on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The economic impact could be lethal. Many people depend on coral reef fisheries to make profit and feed themselves, particularly in developing countries. On top of that, reef tourism and recreation bring significant economic benefits. Continents are not having a better time. Global warming is increasing through the years and scientists have shown that deforestation is reaching the point to transform rainforests to grasslands. This would have important consequences for the water cycle and cause major climatic disruption.
The future, our choice!
We will need to reconsider our view of sustainable economic growth, as it seems that so far it has failed us. We need to steer our leaders towards making better decisions that deliver us and future generations a healthier, fairer greener, happier society. It's crucial that these decisions will be guided by the science and not by the agenda of some random wanna-be politician.
I wish you all a good World Environment Day!!
Care and share!!
Live pono!!
Image credit: pixabay
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