Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

Lessons for Resilience

Consider how to transform risks associated with climate change and COVID-19 into long-term opportunities
Topic:
Environment
Keywords:
Living sustainably
Content:

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyday life which has emphasised concerns about environmental sustainability and resilience. Lessons to consider for dealing with climate change include capitalising on people's increasing interest/knowledge in climate risks, and associated opportunities. Consider how measures can help mitigate or adapt to climate change, or can exacerbate existing barriers:

  • Environmental considerations:
    • Implement nature-based solutions that aim to increase the resilience of ecosystems e.g. considering water security and pollution
    • Be aware of potential for increased illegal deforestation and poaching (as a consequence of less governmental control during lockdown)
    • Mitigate the interruption of environmental monitoring projects that can cause data gaps in climate/environmental data
  • Social considerations:
    • Assess changes in working conditions e.g. frequent, or sole use of virtual solutions, encouraging car-free days, reductions in energy consumption in businesses, and reductions in waste
    • Renovate and diversify the tourism sector towards sustainability so capitalise on environmental awareness since COVID-19
    • Develop policies that help reduce unemployment and mitigate potentially harmful domestic migration to rural areas that could cause environmental degradation
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