Abstract
It is increasingly accepted that climate change constitutes a threat to international peace and security, which derives from the manner in which its effects operate and interact with other triggers which endanger global stability. However, notwithstanding its otherwise harsh consequences for human mortality and health, as well as broader economic, social and cultural indicators, an inadvertent outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to see a positive shift in respect of some of the factors which mitigate the worse effects of climate change. These have essentially arisen as a result of restrictive measures introduced by governments, and ensuing changes seen in working and social practices more generally.
With reference to published official data, this paper attempts to draw lessons from developments to have taken place during the pandemic to consider how these might inform longer term efforts to mitigate the causes and effects of climate change. Whilst it is acknowledged that the gradual return to relative normality will inevitably mean that many measures which indirectly contributed towards positive gains in the fight against climate change will need to be removed, it will nonetheless be argued that experiences during the period of the pandemic have served to demonstrate that some things can be done differently with relative ease while carrying positive environmental effects. The key issue to address moving forward is to determine how some of these experiences can serve to inform the creation of a blueprint for societal change.
Presenters
Gary WilsonProgramme Leader & Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
COVID-19, PANDEMIC, SOCIAL CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION
