A cleaner environment under COVID-19

Mother Earth has been rejoicing during the coronavirus restrictions on human activities

NEWS ITEMS that caught my attention during this week of COVID-19 restrictions on human activities were about the effect on the environment. Pollution was reduced in several cities. Skies were blue again; mountains could be seen in the distance; waters were clear with fish visible; animals were appearing in daylight; and actual birds were tweeting.

There are those who believe climate change and the impact of global warming are exaggerated. The USA, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change. Those of us who live in the Caribbean know that climate change is real – rainfall is less; heat is more intense; hurricanes are more violent; and sea levels are rising. We also know that resources are not infinite. They can be depleted. Flora and fauna are endangered and do become extinct.

With drastically reduced human activities, less cars on the roads, planes in the air, smoke gushing from chimneys, and boats on the waters, the air and waters have cleared. The Earth has settled, signalling to humanity that it would greatly benefit from a change of attitude and policies.

Difficult issues on the agenda of the World Trade Organization (WTO) include trade and environment for which a committee has existed since 1995. It is currently chaired by Ambassador Chad Blackman, permanent representative of Barbados. This committee looks at the impact of trade on the environment which includes environmental standards and goods. With work slowed in the WTO, like labour standards, environmental standards moved into free trade agreements. Some countries require environmental impact assessments for trade agreements.

Climate Change is not in the WTO’s work programme, although measures proposed to address it relate to international trade. In June 2009, the WTO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a report on Trade and Climate Change. From my recollection, this report was not properly discussed at the WTO due to opposition from both developed and developing country members. The opposition to environment and climate change measures result as they restrict certain production and trade which affect economic growth and employment figures. In climate change, the debate over reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other measures continues.

DURABLE, REUSABLE AND REPAIRABLE

Other issues related to both environment and climate change are mass production and our increasingly throwaway culture. With globalisation and value chains, production is transferred to developing countries where labour is plentiful and cheap, and standards are not as strictly monitored. Of course, consumers want less expensive goods. But there is a catch – less expensive, but poor quality. When I was a child, a pair of shoes lasted the entire school year. Now, it may last one term, if the parents are lucky. With clothing, as fashion changes, as it frequently does, the consumer is expected to acquire a new wardrobe. How many of us women can testify to the embarrassment of shoe heels and soles falling off or a handbag disintegrating at a function? The idea is throw it out, buy another.

Now to my pet peeve – technology. Why is it necessary to have a new operating system, application or smarter gadget every other month? These are not cheap, but they are must-haves. Also, many electronic devices cannot be repaired or upgraded when they quickly cease to function or become outdated. Again, throw it away, buy another.

Of course, we are fully aware of the plastics issue. Even with a ban on singleuse plastics, without proper recycling, plastics, so ubiquitous, will remain a massive environmental problem. The older I get, I realise that a lot of the things acquired are not necessary. We could go back to having durable, reusable and repairable goods.

So, as we humans look to ending the COVID-19 restrictions, revving up the economies, and returning to our normal lives, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could heed the message from Mother Earth and address the environment and climate change issues to achieve genuine sustainable development!

The WTO 12th Ministerial Conference and the UN Climate Change Conference, along with others, have been postponed. Discussions, however, are taking place about the post-COVID-19 situation, in whichever fora, with or without some key players, the environment and climate change ought to be in the discussions.

In fact, UNEP and others have pointed out that continued abuse of the planet and inequalities generated contributed to the spread of COVID-19. We have not yet found another habitable planet. It is in our interest to save this one.