Did We Learn Any Lessons From COVID-19?

I know about the fact that COVID-19 has created multiple challenges across the globe, but there is no denying that we saw some amazing changes in human behavior and at the same time, saw some vibrant views of natural beauty. We all know that whenever the world goes through such terrible experiences in the past, the environment takes a positive turn and the people learn a lesson in the end.

We went through that temporary face of a change in nature in human life during the COVID period, but when the threat of infection is almost over, will this condition of the environment be maintained? It’s time that the world now speeds up the pace of development and takes steps that will help us move towards sustainable development without harming nature.

Is This Nature’s Warning?

This short-term fix to an environmental problem is neither a permanent solution nor a desirable outcome. However, we should take the present situation as a warning from nature which provides an opportunity to change the way of the human lifestyle and development process. History is replete with many examples that prove that epidemics have had a profound effect on the environment, but there have also been large-scale exploitation of natural resources to promote the pace of economic growth in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. In such a situation, we need not take the short-term environmental recovery resulting from the corona pandemic as a matter of joy, but to redefine the interrelationships of humans, nature, and economic development. Nature is sending enough warning signs, now this is up to us how we read them.

Man and Nature

Many environmentalists believe that this virus results from the natural imbalance created between man and nature. Scientists say factors such as excessive meat production, antimicrobial resistance, and rising global temperatures are all playing a role in the spread and catastrophic effects of wild-borne viruses on humans. The climate crisis is also reducing our immunity to fight against viral diseases. In fact, over the past few decades, ecological changes, unabated economic development, and rampant exploitation of natural resources have increased the inappropriate and unbalanced use of ecosystems.

As the world’s population has grown rapidly, urbanization and industrialization have expanded, reducing forestation on a large scale and limiting the scope of forest produce. This has created a situation of biological and natural imbalance. Environmental damage not only harms biodiversity but also makes human life worse.

We have reports which say that in 2018, hundreds of millions of people in the world were on the verge of starvation, and millions were displaced because of natural disasters. I consider the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia a worldwide threat to our existence.

These facts force us to think that what has happened in the last few decades is that all these disasters were not from nature alone but we the humans had our fair share as well too. Arguably, in this period of crisis, the mentality of man to consider hyper-materialism, protectionism, and consumerism as synonymous with development has been questioned.

With the blinding glare of modernity, the tendency for individualism and hedonism has increased among the people. These things are good for human upliftment, but the attitude toward controlling the ecosystem with new scientific techniques has given rise to environmental anomalies.

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I read the UN Environment Program which confirmed in its report that a new infectious disease occurs in humans and spread through animals. However, humans are still learning how dangerous it can be to harm our biodiversity. Today, all the economic powers that conceive of modernity and science are helpless in front of this disease.

Eventually, the medicine for this infection like all other infections in the past will also be discovered, but by then a lot of harm would be done. So, in order to maintain a sense of coexistence between economic growth and sustainability, consumption and lifestyle must be designed in such a way that there is no negative impact on nature. But aren't we spending a lot of money on all this?

The Deadly Crisis

Today, we shall have to make changes in fundamental structure at the economic level to overcome epidemics like corona and environmental anomalies. Corona has given us this opportunity to redefine the economy and environmental politics, like ecological respect and justice, both locally and globally. There is also talk of promoting efforts on a local basis against globalization, but we should not forget that environmental problems like this disease are also global, so they should encourage cooperation and investment in global institutions along with promoting local services and employment.

We shall also need to strengthen resources at individual, legal, and managerial levels, it is necessary to promote not only the green economy and Eco-renewal programs but also ecological management and conservation.

Thanks to @monz122 for inviting me to this beautiful community.