GO GREEN: A wakeup call

We cannot go back to the ‘old normal’; we have to change ways to build the ‘new normal’. The world is laden with threats of climate change , natural calamities, environmental damages and public health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the global reality and preparedness to deal with these ‘life-threatening’ challenges. It puts an end to the ‘denial’ of the fact that human activity is to blame for these adversities. Climate change has contributed to the spread of COVID-19?

“The pandemic is a reminder of the intimate and delicate relationship between people and planet. Efforts to make our world safer are doomed to fail unless they address the critical interface between people and pathogens, and the existential threat of climate change, that is making our Earth less habitable ,” said WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the 73rd World Health Assembly.

Amidst the pandemic crisis, the recovery to the future ‘new normal’ calls for a rethink to how we should live sustainably. For the build up to better transformed ‘new normal’ societies and economies, the world needs to find 'green' solutions to effectively respond to global emergencies like COVID-19, climate change, pollution, environmental devastation and biodiversity loss.

The crisis also gives us an opportunity to undo past wrongs and set things in the right direction and drive economies and reconstruct societies through green recovery solutions and plans. A WHO manifesto provides prescriptions for a healthy and green recovery from COVID-19:

1)    Preserve nature, the source of human health.

2)    Invest in basic services like water, sanitation, clean energy in healthcare facilities.

3) Promote a sustainable food systems.

4)    Build liveable cities.

5)    Stop funding pollution.

>>Read more: WHO Manifesto for a healthy recovery from COVID-19

For a better future, we need to invest in a ‘new normal’ - inclusive environment, biodiversity, health, climate change, human-animal, socio-economic - responsive plan of action with sustainable goals.

Think Green Act Green Go Green!

- Singh Rakesh Ranjan 

    Freelance Journalist