What do the climate crisis and COVID-19 have in common? I want to offer some preliminary thoughts I have about connections between climate change and COVID-19, inspired by a few things I have read in recent days or in the past couple of years:
Did Climate Change Cause the Coronavirus? The impacts of climate change include alterations to infectious diseases, such as increases in exposure (U.S. Global Change Research Program, 2018). Although it may be uncertain whether climate change played a role in the emergence of coronavirus specifically, Harvard doctor Aaron Bernstein recently commented on possible links, and emphasized how the impacts of climate change–such as air quality reduction and habitat loss—can contribute to the emergence of global epidemics (Banerjee, 2020). A previous New York Times article explored how humans altering nature results in the rise of new diseases (Robbins, 2012).
Responding to Crises. How can the response to one crisis inform another? Many posts appearing on social media are focusing on how coronavirus response may give us insight into responding to climate change. Conversely, we can also see a link between ideas for climate action and how those may help us respond to coronavirus. Climate psychologist Margaret Klein Salamon has introduced the term “emergency mode” and provided a comprehensive look at what it means for humans to collectively move into emergency mode to respond to the climate crisis. These suggestions can also be applied to how we are responding to coronavirus:
In Klein Salamon’s words, “Emergency mode is the mode of human psychological functioning that occurs when individuals or groups respond optimally to existential or moral emergencies. This mode of human functioning — markedly different from “normal” functioning — is characterized by an extreme focus of attention and resources on working productively to solve the emergency.” Being in emergency mode involves “flow states” in which our attention is focused in “in the zone.” Klein Salamon pointed out how humans have evolved to enter emergency mode when necessary, but that “We cannot count on people entering emergency mode reflexively. Rather, we need to accomplish it through education, organizing, and setting an example” (Klein Salamon, 2019).
Grassroots Efforts. Similar to the situation with climate crisis, with the COVID-19 epidemic we are seeing that some governments have been slow or unprepared to enter emergency mode. Similar to climate justice movements arising to respond to the climate crisis, grassroots efforts are arising to help with COVID-19 impacts. In a piece about building community instead of fear, Resilience.org recently highlighted a grassroots group in Seattle called Covid19mutualaid (Resilience.org, 2020). The group uses Instagram to provide immediate, collective, and visionary response with a priority to help folks who are most at risk.
Nuance, Balance, and Compassion are Needed. The same piece on Resilience.org links to a video by Sonya Renee Taylor, of The Body is Not An Apology. Taylor discussed how human beings are not always good at nuance, however nuance is needed for the coronavirus epidemic response. Taylor emphasized the importance of balance between staying calm and also remembering that the risks to our community are serious by asking, “How do we hold both not living in hysteria and not minimizing?” Taylor mentioned that we can “consider other bodies and the intersection of our response on other bodies” and that “it is time for compassion, care and consideration” (Taylor, 2020). The need for balance and nuance also applies to climate change and climate justice work, in which we are called to understand the nuances of various impacts of climate change, and practice a balanced approach in our responses. Compassion is imperative here too as we consider our reality and the realities of all who are impacted by climate crisis.
In these unprecedented times, it is important that we consider larger themes and connections. That that we raise awareness about moving collectively into emergency mode. That we respond to and support vital grassroots efforts. That we prioritize understanding nuance, finding balance, and practicing compassion. Using approaches like these, may we work toward creating a better world together.
Post by Diana O. Verschoor, March 2020
References
Banerjee, N. (2020, March 12). Q&A: A Harvard expert on environment and health discusses possible ties between COVID and climate. Inside Climate News.
Klein Salamon, M. (2019, May 24). Leading the public into emergency mode. Medium.
Resilience.org. (2020, March 13). Facing COVID-19 with community instead of fear.
Robbins, J. (2012, July 14). The ecology of disease. New York Times.
Taylor, S. R. (2020, March 5). Coronavirus, My Ableism and Why Must Banish the Binary [Instagram].
U.S. Global Change Research Program. (2018). Fourth National Climate Assessment.