LETTERS: While most nations, including Malaysia, are still struggling to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, our planet is gradually recovering due to the halt in various economic activities.
Staying at home may be unbearable to many but not so for Mother Earth.
Data from the Sentinel-5P satellite reveals that levels of nitrogen dioxide have decreased in Europe since the pandemic started. In Paris, the country has experienced significant changes in air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The air is 20-30 per cent cleaner now compared to the first days of the lockdown.
Similarly in Malaysia, metrology stations have reported very good air quality readings.
Some people may say that Covid-19 is a sign from God to step back and reflect about what we have done.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – the world's leading body of climate experts – has warned that we only have 10 years left to keep global temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risk of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.
At the current rate, global temperatures are on course to reach a temperature rise of at least 3 degrees Cels ius by the end of the century, signalling irreversible environmental catastrophe.
To keep global temperature increases to less than 2 degrees Celsius in this century, we must reduce carbon emissions by 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade.
The Oslo Centre for International Climate and Environment Research has indicated that global emissions will begin to drop by 0.3 per cent overall in 2020.
This calls for economic stimulus measures that are centred on sectors with less impact on the climate.
As pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen across the continents by lockdowns and restrictions to curb the Covid-19 spread, scientists have also projected that the carbon production will fall by about five per cent this year.
But the reduction in emissions may be short-lived and will have a tiny effect on ambient carbon dioxide concentration levels without any structural changes.
Subsequently, emissions are likely to rebound as the economy recovers. The world should adopt more renewable energy, boost efficiency standards and step away from coal-based energy to encourage positive environmental impacts.
According to the International Energy Agency, to reach a carbon-neutral energy scenario, renewable energy should account for two-thirds of worldwide electricity supply by 2040.
Perhaps one takeaway from this crisis is the need for a global shutdown of industrial complexes for one week annually as we celebrate Earth Day to give our planet a break from greenhouse gas emissions.
This one-week shutdown can also be used for repair and maintenance work.
It is expected that the economic stimulus measures will be leveraged to provide investment opportunities both in the emissions-reducing infrastructure and in the renewable technologies.
More aggressive policies on climate change are needed by channelling substantial resources and reallocation of investments into energy conservation and renewable energy, as well as a rigorous strategy to remove half of global coal-fired power plant capacity.
No one would have wanted for emissions to be reduced this way via a Covid-19 pandemic which has taken on a bleak global toll on life, economy, education and mental health services.
It is important to note that while governments will be taking the lead in protecting the environment, all of us should offer our full cooperation towards this objective.
FARHAN KAMARULZAMAN
EMIR RESEARCH
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times