Covid-19 & Climate Change for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is on April 22, 2020; 50 years since the day in 1970 where environmental activists across the world came together to fight for cleaner air and water. In recent years, the conversation has shifted towards fighting to address climate change in meaningful ways. Last month, the conversation shifted yet again: to a worldwide pandemic. Here we are, suddenly living in a moment where two major global threats, a worldwide pandemic and the climate crisis, have suddenly converged. So, Local First Arizona is hosting a virtual celebration to discuss how Arizona businesses are addressing climate change from 5:00-7:00 p.m. This event is meant to inspire how we envision environmental and community resilience in our state and raise funds for vulnerable small businesses in the COVID-19 era.
COVID-19 is what all climate activists have been worried about for decades. It’s a major, systemic disruption from an existential threat that’s largely caused by human activity. A threat so great that once we understand what is happening, it’s too late to stop it. A problem that demonstrates our limited ability to cope with disasters out of our control. And a social injustice that highlights how major disasters disproportionately affect those without resources, healthcare, housing, job security, food security, adequate sanitation, and underlying health conditions.
In fact, the cause of coronavirus is not so dissimilar from the cause of climate change. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, meaning it comes from animals — in fact, 75% of novel emerging diseases are zoonotic. Climate change, intensive animal agriculture, and deforestation brings people in closer contact with animals that can spread disease. There is no sustainable human health without a healthy ecosystem. Additionally, air pollution makes people more vulnerable to respiratory infections, and unhealthy foods and pollution, in general, have created a less healthy population across the globe that has a harder time fighting off disease.
The big difference: with climate change, we are talking about years and decades; with coronavirus, we are talking about days and weeks. Coronavirus is climate change on warp speed. For over 30 years, climate activists have been warning about the existential threat of climate change. From major hurricanes to droughts to wildfires, we’ve seen these scary predictions come true, in increasing frequency. Scientists have made clear that we have about a decade left to act. We’ve already surpassed 1 degree Celsius warming. 1.5 is the limit before we start seeing major & irreversible dangerous climate changes, 2 will be much worse, and 3 will be catastrophic. On our current course of action, it is estimated we will surpass 1.5 degrees by 2040, 2 degrees by 2045, and well over 3 by 2100.
The good news? The huge economic and social shifts in just a few weeks in reaction to COVID-19 show that the rapid action needed to curb climate change is very much possible.
The other positive effects from COVID-19 -- like a near halt in international travel and daily commuting, factories closing, and more conscious use of resources like food and toilet paper — will definitely reduce carbon emissions, but are almost certainly temporary. If many grow fearful of public transportation, sharing services, or reusables, our carbon footprint might even rise further. But some new behaviors could outlast the pandemic, such as more telecommuting, local procurements policies, and preparedness for major crises.
And in just a few weeks of reduced human activities and resulting carbon emissions, we’ve seen some huge changes: dolphins reappeared in the Venice Canals, the air pollution in most cities is lower than it’s been in years, and many countries are considering stimulus measures that could drive emissions reductions too, by funding low-carbon infrastructure (clean power, battery storage, and carbon capture technology) or offering online training for green-economy jobs to newly unemployed workers.
So, as we fight this pandemic and find lessons learned over this global challenge, we should remember that the greater battle against climate change is still ahead. And what we learn from this crisis will inform how we react to the ones coming.
Other free events across Arizona:
April 22, 10 AM - 5 PM MST; Hosted by For the World and University of Arizona
1,000+ students and youth across Arizona and Sonora will unite online to build hundreds of projects based upon innovation and creativity related to climate change and sustainability. Learn more about how to work together on projects and challenges related to our current climate crisis in partnership with For the World, UArizona, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, LFA and Startup Unidos. The results of Shift Day's community vote (happening at 4:00 at ftw.org/shift) will be announced live by our MC at Local First Arizona’s Virtual Earth Day Arizona event.
Tucson's Virtual Earth Day Event
April 22, All Day; Hosted by the Children’s Museum of Tucson
Thanks to the Children’s Museum of Tucson & Tucson Electric Power, all of Tucson’s digital Earth Day resources and events will be in one place. There will be links to videos, movies, downloadable documents, live events and virtual activities that are early-child oriented, such as storytime, games and science experiments. There will also be family activities such as photovoice recordings of loved ones making environmental choices, conservation messaging, 50 minutes outdoors to celebrate 50 years of Earth Day, arts installations, and of course an intro from Mrs. Green’s World!
Our Future Beyond COVID-19- A Conversation Between Scientists and Youth
April 22, 4-5 PM MST; Hosted by Arizona Youth Climate Coalition
This event will feature local scientists, who, alongside youth panelists, will discuss the connections between disease and climate change, as well as how we can recover from the effects of this pandemic in a way that both supports our livelihoods and mitigates the dangers of climate change. The scientists on the panel include:
David Schaller, former EPA program manager, who has also worked with Grand Canyon Trust as well as Peace Corps.
Dr. Paul Blowers, an award-winning Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona
Dr. Eve Shapiro from Physicians for Social Responsibility, a Tucson area doctor who has been practicing for over 20 years.
Mayor Regina Romero 50th Earth Day Webinar
April 22, 12:30-2:30pm; Hosted by Mayor Regina Romero
Join us for an Earth Day dialogue on community-wide initiatives and solutions for environmental sustainability and climate justice in the City of Tucson.
April 22-24, All Day; Hosted by US Climate Strike.