Page 35 - Millenial Finomics Issue 1

-ing take-out more often, in- and updates on how they in- Greta Thunberg’s, an environ- the perfect opportunity to re-

creasing single-use plastics. An- tend to reduce greenhouse gas mental activist did not occur. shape the economy to a more

other problem has also emerged emissions. Countries were go- Although these events did take sustainable one and change his-

as people are using plastic hand ing to create these new goals place virtually, for the safety of tory by continuing the deteriora-

sanitizer bottles and single-use during The United Nations everyone, their impact is less tion of Carbon emissions.

surgical masks more often. On Climate Conference of Parties significant as they do not place

top of this, many recycling (COP26), which was arranged as much pressure on govern-

factories and environmental to take place in November, but ments as protests. “Countries should seize the moment to flatten the cli-

protection companies closed postponed to 2021 due to COV- mate curve” The Economist, May 21st 2020.
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/05/21/
temporarily as they aren’t con- ID-19. While the Paris agree- Fundamentally, the short term countries-should-seize-the-moment-to-flatten-the-cli-

sidered necessities. This has in- ment and the Europian Unions impact of COVID-19 on the mate-curve

creased volumes of unrecycled goal to be climate-neutral by environment may be promising. “Can COVID help flatten the climate curve?” The
Economist, May 21st 2020.
waste, illegal deforestation, fish- 2050 are still in place, what na- The pause this pandemic has https://www.economist.com/briefing/2020/05/21/

ing and hunting. (Robert Ham- tions do during this year will placed on our lives has allowed can-covid-help-flatten-the-climate-curve

wey, 2020). Moreover, as many have a substantial impact on nature to play at its original flow, “The epidemic provides a chance to do good by the

countries closed their borders whether these goals are com- with clearer skies, canals and climate” The Economist, March 26th 2020.
https://www.economist.com/science-and-technolo-
and suspended exporting, there pleted. One possible scenario is lower emissions. However, the gy/2020/03/26/the-epidemic-provides-a-chance-to-do-
good-by-the-climate
was an excess of perishable that countries could lose focus long term effects depend on

goods such as fish and agricul- on climate change, a long-term governments next steps and fi- “Has coronavirus helped the environment?” Martha
Henriques, 23rd April 2020.
ture. As producers struggled to issue, and focus on COVID-19, nancial decisions. An investment https://www.bbc.com/future/arti-
cle/20200422-how-has-coronavirus-helped-the-environ-
sell these large quantities in do- a short-term predicament. If in renewable energy and electric ment

mestic markets they were forced they lose focus, it may be more vehicles alongside a carbon tax

to discard these organic goods strenuous to reach the targets would finally allow a large scale “Environmental impacts of coronavirus crisis, challeng-
es ahead” Robert Hamwey, April 20th 2020.
as waste. As these goods decay, set in time. However, the above use of sustainable energy. As https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?Original-
VersionID=2333
they will release methane which goals can still be achieved, if the secretary-general, Antonio
is a greenhouse gas, making it countries use this opportunity Guterres said, “[leaders] have “Electric car sales are on the rise – is coronavirus a turn-
ing point for the market?” James Carroll, August 19th
likely levels of greenhouse gases to bring together scientists and the tools however, they lack 2020.

will rise soon. innovators to reshape the econ- the leadership and ambition https://theconversation.com/electric-car-sales-are-on-
the-rise-is-coronavirus-a-turning-point-for-the-mar-
omy in a cleaner model. This to do what is needed.” Fi- ket-144706

The Paris agreement, which was pandemic also prevented the nally, a prominent factor this “Why COVID-19 will end up harming the environment”

signed by 197 countries, aims to celebration of the 50th anniver- pandemic has proven is the Beth Gardiner, June 18th 2020.
https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/pub-
limit rising global temperature sary of Earth Day. Many events ability of humanity to come lic/amp/science/2020/06/why-covid-19-will-end-up-
to 2°C. Under the agreement, that were expected to take place, together as one, quickly, to harming-the-environment

signatories must submit plans including a protest organized by protect human kind. Now is

34 35