COVID-19, Climate Change and Stewarding a Thriving Natural World

“The Ninth Wave” by Chinese-born artist Cai Guo-Qiang, image by the author, Power Station of Art, Shanghai, 2014

REFLECTIVE

It was my interest in infectious disease that drew me to public health, and my concern for climate change and environmental justice that set me on my current path. During my graduate work, these same interests took me abroad - coincidentally to Guangdong, China where SARS had broken out 10 years prior - to advise on low-impact, climate-adaptive and health-promoting strategies to develop the last developable land in Shenzhen. Standing on the razed land - a cleared settlement - between the shore and forest’s edge, the project became a symbol of the health and environmental challenges of our time. Of the urbanization and deforestation that propagate novel zoonoses. Of the climate crisis and impending sea level rise that will soon overtake coastal developments. Of the displacement of communities and loss of land and cultural ties. And the perverse economics that drive them all.

Now in my tenth year of public health practice, amid the COVID-19 crisis, I find myself frustrated by our lack of progress to address the climate crisis - named the greatest threat to public health in the 21st Century. And I’m fearful that this, COVID-19, is only a harbinger of things to come. Climate change will bring more fires, more floods, more storms, new outbreaks of infectious disease and greater strains on our food, health, economic and community systems - and those who already experience the greatest inequities will bear the greatest impacts. 

Yet, the scale of the COVID-19 crisis is outmatched by the scale of our opportunity to transform systems for health and equity, and secure a thriving natural world for all. The disruptive forces of COVID-19 are: inspiring new ways of working and living that decrease our fossil fuel consumption; founding a new imperative for safe, accessible, human-centered public spaces; underscoring issues of environmental justice; reviving interest in green economics; and renewing our appreciation for nature and exploring our world. We, as stewards, have the power to chart a new course: we can change development practices, transition a green economy and address environmental injustices, and co-create a new environmental legacy.


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The below resources identify environmental drivers of the COVID-19 crisis, how we can leverage the COVID-19 crisis to advance environmental actions, how stewards are advancing environmental actions now, and web-based resources to connect to nature and foster environmental stewardship while in quarantine and while socially distancing.

Environmental drivers of pandemics

Screen grab of Coronavirus Response Shows the World Is Not Ready for Climate-Induced Pandemics
Coronavirus Response Shows the World Is Not Ready for Climate-Induced Pandemics
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by The Earth Institute
Screen grab of The Health Emergency That’s Coming to West Louisville
The Health Emergency That’s Coming to West Louisville
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Screen grab of The Corona Connection: Forest Loss Drives Viruses As Well As Climate Change
The Corona Connection: Forest Loss Drives Viruses As Well As Climate Change
Story - Written
Brought to you by Covering Climate Now

Leveraging COVID-19 for climate action

Screen shot of the homepage
Smart Growth and the Pandemic
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Smart Growth America
Screen grab of We Can Waste Another Crisis, or We Can Transform the Economy
We Can Waste Another Crisis, or We Can Transform the Economy
Story - Written
Brought to you by Jacobin
Screen grab of Eight Emerging Lessons: From Coronavirus to Climate Action
Eight Emerging Lessons: From Coronavirus to Climate Action
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Medium

Stewarding a thriving natural world

Screen grab of Europe’s Cities Are Making Less Room for Cars After Coronavirus
Europe’s Cities Are Making Less Room for Cars After Coronavirus
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Screen grab of The Power of Parks in a Pandemic
The Power of Parks in a Pandemic
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Screen grab of How Will Americans Commute After Lockdowns End?
How Will Americans Commute After Lockdowns End?
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab

Connecting to our natural world while socially distancing

Screen shot of the homepage
Children & Nature Network: COVID-19
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Children and Nature Network
Ways to Enjoy Nature While Social Distancing
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Park People
The Explorer Classroom website
Explorer Classroom
Resource - Webinar
Brought to you by National Geographic Society
Screen grab of Exploring Nature When You're Stuck at Home
Exploring Nature When You're Stuck at Home
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by iNaturalist
Screen grab of PARKTRACKS
PARKTRACKS: Find Your Park
Story - Audio
Brought to you by Find Your Park
Parks at Home webpage
Parks at Home
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by National Park Foundation

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WRITTEN BY

Sara Ivey, MPH, MURP. Sara is an urban planner and public health practitioner based in the Pacific Northwest. She is a project manager for IP3 and contributing writer for Community Commons.

 Related Topics


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Climate Crisis

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Thriving Natural World

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Coronavirus Pandemic