By: Manvi Jain. Graduate Candidate, International Social and Public Policy, the London School of Economics, UK.
Introduction
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, said, “As human beings, we all share the same sorrows, the same hopes, the same potential. The Covid-19 Pandemic has reminded us how interdependent we are: what happens to one person can soon affect many others, even on the far side of our planet.” [i] The butterfly effect suggests that even the remotest bit of change around us can cause something momentous in this world we live in, and so can be seen by how the Coronavirus spread and changed our lives forever.
However, what lies ahead for us? Will we proceed to continue living our fast-paced, consumerist lives? Will we persist in innovating at any cost? Or will we live lives that are globally connected?
Pandemics in the past have compelled people to look ahead and imagine the world anew. Since the Covid-19 Pandemic began, everyone has been asking what the ‘new normal’ looks like for our planet and society. Today, as the world concentrates on getting past the Pandemic, the urgency of climate change has taken a bit of a back seat. However, gradually combatting global warming would be necessary for preventing future spread of diseases. Scientists warn that a warming planet will be fertile to spawn new viruses and other pathogens and introduce new habitats. This can be seen in the incident of the outbreak of the Anthrax disease that affected reindeer herds in Siberia, which has been associated with infected spores discharged from the active layer of permafrost, which is thawing and thickening at an instantaneous speed. Thus, climate change may emit novel pathogens frozen for millions of years, different from the pathogens we know. We should acknowledge that there are millions of prehistoric ones that we have no information on, which could be worse than the Coronavirus.
During the Pandemic, there were discussions about how the virus got disseminated from some geological system into the human system, so we again saw nature as the enemy.
Since industrialisation, our world has altered from a nature-based society to a capitalistic one. We are consumerists; thus, connecting value to ecosystem services drives us to enthral nature, which comes at a price. However, if we limit nature, we limit biodiversity. Then nature gives it back to us through environmental cataclysms and pandemics. Covid-19 has taught us that there is no personal health without ecological health. The concept of planetary health has emphasised the interdependence between human health and ecological convulsions and how that influences our health. Covid-19 decrypted this into reality. Urban growth has increased drastically over the years and about two-thirds of the population is predicted to live in urban areas by 2050, increasing the risk of divulging new pathogens and diseases.
Pandemic and SDGs
In addendum to the health crisis caused by the virus, the loss of livelihood for millions emphasised acute vulnerabilities of our society, thus showing how Covid-19 will affect the Sustainable Development Goals. Covid-19 has raised challenges in achieving key SDGs. First, SDG 3, good health and well-being, is impacted directly across the world, people are affected and lost lives, and the healthcare systems were devastated by the virus. The systems were incapable of caring for people suffering from other illnesses. Mass cremations significantly contributed to air and water pollution which would further impact the ecological health and in turn have an impact on human health. Secondly, SDG 4, quality education, is another affected SDG. The Pandemic deprived children of a robust educational environment. Even though the schools went online, the sizeable socioeconomic gap made the low-income groups suffer more. Finally, the UN created SDG 5 gender equality to guarantee it as a human right and an essential foundation for a better world; found that women faced more consequences as they do three times more domestic and care work than men whether they are involved in the formal environment or not. Worldwide 70% of healthcare and social workers are women. Because of stay-at-home orders, the claims of domestic violence and abuse had risen enormously. The National Commission for Women, India, NCW, reported 20% more domestic violence cases in 2020 than in 2019.
Though the sustainable goals have taken a toll, they can be seen as a compass for developing post-Covid policies and investments. We have heard a lot about “Build Back Better” in alignment with the goals. Acute food insecurity ascended to about 265 million in 2020. The global poverty rate rose for the first time in 20 years, from 119 to 124 million in 2020. Additionally, 2 billion people already lack safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion use harmful cooking equipment. The Pandemic led to 255 million full-time jobs being taken away; for every 1 million people, 311 were refugees. Considering this, a systematic approach to developing policies on sustainable development and equity in society is essential.
Build Back Better
A recent IPSOS survey of 21,000 adults from 27 countries indicated that 86% desired the planet to evolve sustainably and equitably rather than return to the status quo. New technologies’ economic growth and evolution have made our lives affluent, causing an irreversible shift in the global environment and compelling us into unsustainable conditions. Of the nine planetary boundaries outlined by Rockstrom in 2009, biosphere integrity and biogeochemical flows have transcended the unsustainable threshold while land-system change and climate change are closing to a critical point. For years, humankind has modified the environment and geology of the Earth according to their demands. As a result, 70% of the land has been altered to meet human needs, and 77% of the water bodies no longer flow freely. Additionally, the coral reefs are disappearing, the number of urban wild animals has risen, and the local biodiversity is endangered. These issues can be dealt with if economies look within their nation and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels to find viable solutions.
The idea of economies being self-reliant, like the ‘Atman Nirbahr Bharat Abhiyan in India’, undoubtedly indicates how supporting local workers and produce was the focus of governments during the Pandemic. The Covid-19 period was a time of homegrown labels, resorting to Ayurveda as treatment and prevention for the disease. Every country at this point is trying to gain an economic reboot before dwelling on trade with other countries. Furthermore, sustainable tourism has been a massive point of discussion for “Building Back Better initiatives” with the objective of a reliable rehab of tourism and how to enhance the environment and social and economic sustainability of the tourism sector. This would build on the principle of local procurement, assimilation of local culture and getting livelihood opportunities to local communities without harming the environment.
On the other hand, the 272 million international migrants were more vulnerable than ever because of personal, social, situational, and structural factors. While some immigrants’ health may be healthier than others, others face vulnerabilities due to their socioeconomic status, restricted eligibility for services, migration status, lack of travel options to return to their home country or culture barriers.
We need to build places where people can interact in the long term as we cannot live socially alien lives. We have had blind trust in a globalised world, but now we are witnessing a change after lockdowns. We will not enjoy travel so freely or the perks of colossal supply chains. The concept of risk society by Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens fits quite well, for modern society would organise to respond to risk. Society needs to realise that to transition into an equitable and sustainable post-Covid era; we need to recognise that we need to redirect from short-term economic development towards interdependency between social, economic and environmental solidity, much like what countries like Finland, Iceland, Wales, Scotland and New Zealand are doing.
Furthermore, there is a high need for collaboration between all stakeholders of society to create policies focused on all and not just one sector of society, such as healthcare. We must grasp this opportunity from the new de-globalised world to shift our priority from power politics to a state concentrating on skill development, localised self-sufficiency and green spaces. Finally, the Pandemic has highlighted the need to create a digital infrastructure that complements human Intelligence founded on transparency, security, and human values.
The modern world should not be taken for granted, as issues that seem far away can quickly start a butterfly and domino effect and ravage our lives. How a person eats a bat can cause a toilet paper shortage in another country, and we may finally realise that fossil fuel emissions in one city will make this entire planet inhabitable. Post vaccines, we may have had the option to go out, but if we let climate change take over, isolation may become our enduring way of life. Of course, we will try to limit our exposure to the outside world, but if Covid-19 has taught us anything, our way of living is not sustainable for us or our planet.
Artificial Intelligence may be our way of life in the years to come, as an AI system first predicted the Wuhan Outbreak. We have evolved into virtual generations over the years. Our lives rely on technology like virtual social spaces, online gaming, shopping, and social media, which have altered our perception. With technology, the notion of work has also transformed drastically, as has the education system. Our social worlds have expanded due to technology. Social media and external stimuli have impacted and shaped our social identities, society, and culture. This has not just affected us socially but also mentally. Thus, while making policies, assertiveness on mental well-being is paramount.
Furthermore, Covid-19 was more severe in people already suffering from illnesses like diabetes, heart conditions, cancer etc. Therefore, people will have started adopting healthier and more sustainable ways to eat and produce food. Additionally, we should be thinking about what has happened, and there should be a talk about how a global crisis can be averted. The disturbing lesson is that the Pandemic response was not a concerted global moment as the politics interfered and the blame game started. However, on a positive note, vaccine diplomacy brought scientists and researchers from everywhere together to create a much-needed solution to create herd immunity. Whilst this Pandemic may have come as a surprise, there was no surprise in reality because pandemics have occurred in the past. Scientists had strongly advocated preparedness, yet we ignored scientific advice and found ourselves unprepared when it happened. This is precisely the same story with climate change. However, the difference is that one cannot create a vaccine and reach herd immunity for climate change. Many will say adaptation, but that will not be comfortable and cheap. We have learnt that if we disburse a dollar in advance to avert a crisis, we save millions when we are in a crisis.
Our hunger for meat contributes to environmental degradation; how animals are bred influences our health, as these conditions are a breeding ground for diseases. Vegetarianism and veganism are being adopted, and science is investigating plant-based meat options made of mushrooms or soy. Many analysts acknowledge there will be greener antibiotic-free cultured meat in supermarkets in the future. Still, the question is how accommodating people will be to purchase it.
Conclusion
Henceforth, how can we construct a coherent retort for a sustainable post-covid society? Firstly, we should build clean political commitment and leadership at the highest level to shape the national goals concerning sustainable development goals. Secondly, we must embrace a long-term strategic idea to make more informed choices and build strength against the long-term shocks that will affect society, the economy and the environment. Thirdly, there is an immediate need to modify policies, especially concerning health care and social quality of life, to counterbalance divergent economic, social, and environmental prerogatives. Finally, we must engage stakeholders effectively, ensure that different voices are heard, and work with pertinent experts to determine challenges, establish goals, and mobilise resources.
Again, there should be benefits for jobs in the business sector and ameliorate inequalities with implications for longer-term resilience. For the vulnerable, subsidies and other government support schemes should be implemented more effectively and efficiently. The food and agriculture sector should have a secure and sustainable supply chain. The UN Declaration for human rights calls for rights that governments were taking lightly, but after the Pandemic, the governments should seek to create policies that focus on the global goals and the Declaration of Rights.
To build an inclusive and sustainable society, we must improve supply chain resilience and circularity, align with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, amplify climate resilience, decrease biodiversity loss, and innovate on building behavioural changes. In addition, a people-centric strategy is a must. Finally, there is a need for a holistic and systems approach to examine nations’ social well-being and lives. The world is not shockproof; we must do better to live quality lives.
REFERENCES:
– Stella, E. (2020, October 7). Permafrost dynamics and the risk of anthrax transmission: a modelling study. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-72440-6
– COVID-19 shows the link between human and planetary health. (2020, May 25). World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/on-earth-day-heres-what-covid-19-can-teach-us-about-improving-our-planetary-health/
– Joy, S. (2021, January 4). Domestic violence complaints rose 79% in 2020. Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/national/domestic-violence-complaints-rose-79-in-2020-934903.html
– Boyon, N. (2020). Around the world, people yearn for significant change rather than a return to a “pre-COVID normal.” IPSOS. https://www.ipsos.com/en/global-survey-unveils-profound-desire-change-rather-return-how-life-and-world-were-covid-19
– Hub, I. S. K. (2021b). SDGs Report 2021: COVID-19 Led to First Rise in Extreme Poverty in a Generation | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD. IISD: SDG Knowledge Hub. https://sdg.iisd.org/news/sdgs-report-2021-covid-19-lead-to-first-rise-in-extreme-poverty-in-a-generation/
– Rockström, J., et al. 2009. Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humani- ty. Ecology and Society 14(2): 32. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art32/
– Will Steffen et al., “Planetary Boundaries: Guiding Human Development on a Changing Planet,” Science 347, no. 6223 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855.
– Watabe, A. (2021). SUSTAINABLE LIVING BEYOND COVID-19: CAPABILITIES, COLLABORATION, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. https://www.iges.or.jp/en/publication_documents/pub/discussionpaper/en/11366/Sustainable+Living+Beyond+COVID-19.pdf
– Millard, J. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 on social development and implications for the just transition to sustainable development. UNDES. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/08/Impacts-of-COVID-19-on-social-development-and-implications-for-the-just-transition-to-sustainable-development-4-8-20.pdf
– COVID-19 and Green Economic Recovery: What Roles for Sustainable Tourism? (2021). World Trade Organisation. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/webinar_22june21_e.htm
– Migration Factsheet No. 6 – The impact of COVID-19 on migrants. (2020). IOM. https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/our_work/ICP/MPR migration_factsheet_6_covid-19_and_migrants.pdf
- Coronavirus: How can society thrive post-pandemic? (2020). BBC Worklife. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201118-coronavirus-how-will-it-affect-inequalities-mental-health
- Migration Factsheet No. 6 – The impact of COVID-19 on migrants. (2020). IOM. https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/our_work/ICP/MPR/migration_factsheet_6_covid-19_and_migrants.pdf
