Steep falls in emissions have been the pandemic’s immediate effect. But what’s needed is a green recovery
So
far, discussions of a coronavirus exit strategy have mainly focused on
the steps that could bring an end to the lockdown. In the short term,
both in the UK and elsewhere, there is nothing more desirable than
letting people resume their lives, once it is safe to do so.
But the speed of the “return to normal” is not the only thing that
matters. The manner in which the world’s leaders manage the colossal
economic and political shocks caused by the virus is also of the utmost
importance. And at the top of their list of priorities, alongside human
welfare, must be the biosphere and its future.
Millions forced to choose between starvation and migration under 'best-case' scenario of 1.5C of warming by 2100
Wealthy communities will be able to buy their way out of the unfolding climate crisis while the poorest will suffer most, a UN report has found.
Even under the unrealistic "best-case" scenario of 1.5C of
warming by 2100, many millions of people will have to choose between
starvation and migration, Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights warned.
He predicted a split between those able to mitigate the worst
effects of the warming planet and those with no means to avoid it,
calling it a "climate apartheid".
And he said the fallout from our rapidly warming climate would have dire implications for human rights and democracy.
"What was once considered catastrophic warming now seems like a best-case scenario," Mr Alston said.
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