COVID-19 PANDEMIC: LESSONS FOR AN INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT AND GREEN SUSTAINABLE PATHWAY

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything ranging from loss of precious lives to economic and social activities. These changes have undoubtedly inflicted substantial economic and social shocks as global production, consumption, and employment levels dropped precipitously. Still, several positive changes were observed in terms of environmental quality. The most visible impact on the environment has been a reduction in greenhouse emissions from transportation sources, especially air and road transport, which account for a substantial portion of pollution. Beyond transportation, however, other sources that would generally have contributed to pollution were also curtailed. As many establishments were shut down, offices and facilities could afford to run on lower power rather than operational during business hours. Aside from air pollution, industrial waste also affects sources of water as well as land. This has also been reduced due to the pandemic, especially in regions where there is poor implementation of waste management regulations. At the same time, ecological hotspots, where human activity is usually pervasive, has observed an improved environmental quality, enabling wildlife and other life forms to prosper efficiently. On one side, the pandemic reveals how reduced anthropocentric activities can lead to substantial mitigation in environmental pollution. On the other hand, it emphasises the urgency to revisit global environmental policies to sustain this environmental quality for future generations. It is, however, pertinent to mention here that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment is unlikely to be linear. Still many alternatives viz., work from home, online studying, e-commerce, planting of trees, etc., can be institutionalised through law and policymaking to ensure the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and energy sector. The researcher thus visualises that COVID-19 has inaugurated a new green order and invite attention of relevant stakeholders as to how to sustain such change in the times to come.