Our pandemic failures should inform climate-response talks

Synopsis: The fight against COVID and climate change has suffered from misinformation. Both require strong measures and popular support.

Introduction

COVID-19 has affected the entire planet and many lives, global economies and hit the poorest disproportionately hard. Like the pandemic, limiting climate change will test governments’ ability to adapt and cooperate across borders.

How COVID has been a series of failures?

Failure of the Governments: Govts should have been better prepared to use their resources. The least wealthy 52 countries have 20% of the global population but just 4% of vaccinations. The Covax vaccine initiative has also fallen short of its promises.

Data deficiencies: Poor record-keeping and testing mean that in much of the developing world there is no data about how many people died of COVID.

What do these failures have to do with climate?

Increasing risk of pandemic: factors such as climate change, like deforestation raise the risk of pandemics.

The consequences of global warming: altered weather patterns and habitats, create opportunities for pathogens to find new hosts and for diseases to leap from animals to humans.

What are the lessons leaders and officials meeting in Glasgow should keep in mind?

Underplaying the problem and delaying action: In January 2020, as the first cases of covid were detected in the US, President declared coronavirus “very much under control.” British Prime Minister spoke of business as usual, even as Italy was already in crisis. This should not be repeated.

Multilateralism is the key to success: The limited role of the World Health Organization, and the unwillingness of states to share resources and information cannot be repeated with global warming. When it comes to organizing a global response to the pandemic, WHO should take the lead.

Private enterprise is vital to the solution: Investing in capacity to help countries adapt quickly. Governments need to step up, set climate targets, invest and enable regulators to get tough on disclosure and green-washing.

What is the way forward?

First, talks in Glasgow must narrow the gap between countries’ commitments and deliver on promises of financial support for developing nations. The already-promised annual $100 billion should have been reached in 2020.

Second, ensuring the burden of climate responses is spread and also capitalize on signs that frequent extreme weather is moving public opinion from alarm to action.

Source: This post is based on the article “Our pandemic failures should inform climate-response talks” published in Livemint on 1st November 2021.