11 Climate Change and COVID-19: An Interplay

During the last decade, the world has been assessing the adverse effects of climate change on human life, animal life, and plant life. It has been accepted by all Governments and experts that even a 1.5°C−2°C rise in atmospheric temperature will be playing a havoc on our planet. The near unanimity of all countries, which matter, led to the historic Paris agreement for reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases’ emission levels. Efforts by all stakeholders were on to control and contain the disruptive effects of climate change. Amidst these efforts, yet another disruptor, the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus, COVID-19 struck. We are grappling with its ferocity since January 2020. Most countries have imposed restrictions on the movement of personnel and goods to contain the disease and to stop its spread to new areas. This has led to a large-scale suspension of industrial activities across sectors. Most severely hit are persons and organizations associated with transportation, tourism, and hospitality. Trade and commerce have also been adversely affected by the disruption of supply chains. The industrial production is down and a fall in GDPs more severe than the one caused by the recession of 2008 is feared. In a nutshell, the entire mankind is under economic and social stress due to the suspension of various human activities in its fight against the pandemic. But this suspension of activities has seen some pleasing returns too in the form of cleaner air in most cities across continents. A natural question that comes to one’s mind is as to how would the effect of these two disruptors, the ongoing pandemic and man’s fight against climate change, affect each other. In this chapter, the short-term and long-term effects of these disruptors are identified, the factors influencing the efforts by various stakeholders are discussed, and pitfalls that may come in the path are highlighted by looking at the similarities and differences in the two disruptors. Finally, a road map for the planners in the light of these discussions is suggested.