S1.2 Is the Earth Better Off Without Us?” - COVID-19, Climate Change & The Environment

06/13/20 • 92 min

Launched on World Environment Day (June 5, 2020), under the theme 'TIME FOR NATURE', this episode explored the very close link between climate change, environmental health, and the spread of diseases.

The COVID-19 Stay-At-Home orders drastically reduced transportation, both air travel and on the ground, and also reduced economic activities such as manufacturing, fishing. A study published in May 2020 found that the daily global carbon emissions during the lockdown measures in early April fell by 17% and could lead to an annual carbon emissions decline of up to 7%, which would be the biggest drop since World War II according to the researcher.

in addition to anecdotal evidence of more fish in some waterways as people stayed at home due to lockdown and travel restrictions, some animals have been spotted in areas that were once their natural habitat. Sea turtles were spotted laying eggs on beaches they once avoided (such as the coast of the Bay of Bengal), due to the lowered levels of human interference and light pollution.
How do we use these observations to plan for life after Covid-19 considering the importance of safeguarding environmental health while addressing climate change impacts?

Previous Episode

S1.1 A Post-Covid World” - How has the world changed with the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in major and for some countries, unprecedented changes. Our collective will as a society as well as various infrastructures has been put to the test. We have had many businesses having to close their doors because of significant decreases in revenue. This has also resulted in job losses with varying levels of impact on those affected. These are just a few of the impacts we are experiencing due to the positive feedback loop created by our response to the pandemic.
Listen to climate change advocates Eleanor Terrelonge and Emme Kristi chat with an environmental scientist, Danielle Nembhard, and environmental advocate and Chevening Scholar Dainalyn Swaby about how the world has changed since Covid-19 and what are some of the major impacts that need to be addressed as lessons learned.

Next Episode

S1.3 When Hunger Strikes? Food Security and Sustainability (Part 1)

A look at how climate change and the environment impacts food security. In this episode, we assessed the frameworks existing in Jamaica to address these impacts considering our lived experience through COVID-19. The different perspectives and on the different dimensions of food security of the FAO food security definition were explored.