By Adela Mullerova
Introduction
The year 2020 took the world by surprise in a whirlwind of events with far-reaching consequences. This article discusses the impact of the most profound events of 2020 on the developments in the climate action movement - COVID-19, Black Lives Matter movement and the US elections. It concludes from 2021 onwards, we have an opportunity to tackle the climate crisis as an intersectional issue in order to achieve environmental and social justice. Accordingly, several recommendations are offered at the end of the above analysis.
Climate Change after COVID-19
The Coronavirus pandemic has had a huge global impact. As of 30 April 2021, there have been more than 150 million confirmed cases including more than 3 million deaths.[1] However, while the pandemic has hit the world with a negative economic impact, the effect on the environment has been celebrated. Due to governments around the world imposing various restrictions, travel bans and lockdowns, the environment has been thriving. For instance, air pollution levels decreased significantly. Carbon emissions dropped by 25% in China[2] and by more than 50% in Spain.[3] A similar impact was evidenced in water pollution levels around the world.[4] As such, one year of the pandemic has incidentally started tackling the climate crisis in a manner that the governments would have never undertaken. It is suggested that global cooperation should continue in developing creative solutions to environmental issues in the post-Covid world.
However, the pandemic has also revealed major issues of environmental inequality. The rates of transmission of the virus uncovered uneasy truth about the correlations between the transmission of the pandemic and various environmental factors. For instance, areas with higher air pollution such as Northern Italy have seen the virus spreading more rapidly than in areas with lower pollution levels.[5] This leads to a critical conclusion that areas with higher environmental damage are more prone to the increased spread of infectious diseases, resulting in an environmental injustice for those living there. While the right to a clean, healthy and safe environment has been recognized in various Conventions[6] it is yet to be formalized on the international level. It is critical, therefore, that post-pandemic climate efforts focus on tackling injustice to achieve a society where the right to a clean environment is universally respected. Implementation of this right to the EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights is also recommended.
Climate Change After BLM
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered. This has triggered a mass outcry for justice and an end to police brutality driven by racism. The #BlackLivesMatter movement has since identified major faults in the system built on institutional racism against people of colour. One of many of these issues is environmental injustice and racism. Chavis described it as:
“Racial discrimination in environmental policymaking and enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of colour for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the presence of life-threatening poisons and pollutants for communities of colour.”[7]
There is a disproportionate burden of pollution and environmental damage on developing countries and marginalised groups. Most recently, an Indigenous Wayuu community has been battling against the negative effect of a nearby Cerrejón coal mine owned by British and Australian companies.[8] The mine has been alleged to produce noxious chemicals that increase the spread of COVID-19. While the Wayuu community has managed to appeal to the UN and win, others have not been so lucky. Toxic waste dumping in the Global South is just another example of exploiting poor and Indigenous communities. Particularly the importation of e-waste in Niagara and Ghana is economically viable for both the country and the importers. The concealed truth, however, is that it is children who strip this waste of its raw materials, exposed to toxic fumes and dangerous materials.[9] It is suggested that due attention is given to the exploitation of cheap labour in developing countries. Proper education about the rights and avenues for their enforcement should be a priority for the communities in developing countries. This would empower them to defend their health and land as well as protect the environment in these regions. Accordingly, cooperation with developing countries must be ensured to collectively eliminate environmental racism.
Furthermore, Urban planning might also lead to substantial injustice. Bullard pointed out that: “Land use policy has led to the cumulative effects of environmental hazards’ being shouldered within low-income and minority communities.”[10] Particularly bigger cities see zoning segregation that secludes the marginalised groups into areas with higher environmental pollution and low access to fresh produce. Professor Agyeman pointed out that in these city parts, “your zip code is a better predicament of your health than your genetic code.”[11] Additionally, these communities often do not have the resources to defend themselves from these environmental abuses and thus remain in the vicious circle for generations.[12] As such, climate change must be considered an intersectional issue. There is a need for conscious effort to eradicate environmental injustice and as such, in tackling climate change voice must be given to those who suffer the most.
Climate Change after US Elections
In 2017, Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement. Following the withdrawal from global cooperation in tackling climate change, the Trump administration has pursued a campaign of “climate revolt.” Climate change has even been dropped from the national security threats. In 2018, a presidential memorandum to "minimize unnecessary regulatory burdens" was signed, loosening the environmental checks on companies.[13] Many Regulations and rules introduced by the Obama administration have been considered unnecessary and subsequently revoked.[14] Renewable energy was completely omitted from the “America First Energy Plan” and instead focuses on the use of fossil fuels.[15] The full account of Trump’s environmental policy (or lack of it) is beyond the scope of this article. However, it is safe to say that strategy business over environmental protection in the past 5 years has had a massive impact not only on the environment itself but also the global stance towards climate action. The US has a strong bargaining power on the global level, inaction on their part, therefore, impacts the global community and the collective climate action.
Nonetheless, after 5 years of climate change inaction at the White House, Joe Biden has replaced Donald Trump as the 46th president of the US. Given one of his first acts in the oval office was re-joining the Paris Agreement, the future seems brighter for the active participation of the US in the global climate action negotiations. Indeed, in his manifesto, Biden has pledged to “ensure the U.S. achieves a 100% clean energy economy and reaches net-zero emissions no later than 2050.”[16] There are also targets for increased cooperation globally and for taking action against fossil fuel companies who exploit communities of colour, as described above. He adhered to the latter when in the first days of his administration cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline. While there are some areas where Biden is still floundering, there is a hope for better environmental outcomes and for the US leading by example which is undeniably more than his predecessor has achieved. With economic bargaining power, the effectively targeted climate campaign of the Biden administration can turntable in terms of tackling climate change globally.
Recommendations
This article has analysed the key events of 2020 in light of climate action. It reached the following conclusions and suggestions:
(1) The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the governments implementing inventive solutions to tackle the spreading of the virus. The national restrictions and lockdowns have had a substantial impact on the levels of pollution. It is suggested discussions as to how to minimize environmental impact continue in the post-COVID world as well.
(2) The pandemic has also revealed the correlations between the transmission of the virus and pollution. To achieve justice for those negatively impacted by the location of their home, the right to clean, safe and healthy environment must be implemented as one of the fundamental human rights on both the European and global level.
(3) There is a disproportionate burden of pollution on minorities and developing countries. Proper education and cooperation with developing countries, particularly the Global South, is necessary to eradicate environmental racism.
(4) Zoning and urban planning reflect social segregation, leaving those on low income and people of colour in polluted and environmentally unsustainable areas. Hence, climate change should be referred to as an intersectional issue. As such, there is a need for better representation of the marginalised groups on a global level. Voice must be given to those most impacted by climate change.
(5) The 2020 US elections have brought hope for the continued participation of the States in tackling climate change at the global level. It is, therefore, crucial to ensure negotiations are not stagnating and there is consistent pressure on increasing the climate goals.
References
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, American Convention on Human Rights
Agyeman J at PIEL UK 15th Annual Conference (Online, 13th April 2020) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBi34ZatuDw> accessed 8 May 2021
Agyeman J, Bullard R and Evans B, Just Sustainabilities: Development in an Unequal World (MIT Press, 2003)
Bullard R, ‘Residential segregation and urban quality of life’ in Environmental justice—Issues, policies, and solutions, edited by Bunyan Bryant (Island Press, 1995)
Carrington D, ‘Air pollution linked to far higher Covid-19 death rates, study finds’ (The Guardian, 7 April 2020) <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/07/air-pollution-linked-to-far-higher-covid-19-death-rates-study-finds> accessed 8 May 2021
Chavis B, ‘Preface’. In Unequal Protection: Environ-Mental Justice and Communities of Color, edited by Robert D Bullard, xi–xiii (Sierra Club Books, 1994)
Climate Plan, <https://joebiden.com/climate-plan/> accessed 8 May 2021
Okafor-Yarwood I, Adewumi I J, ‘Toxic waste dumping in the Global South as a form of environmental racism: Evidence from the Gulf of Guinea' (2020) African Studies 285-304
Popovich N, L Albeck-Ripka, K Pierre-Louis, ‘The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here's the Full List’ (The New York Times, 2 June 2019)
S 2155—the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act
Saadat S, Rawtani S, Hussain CM, ‘Environmental perspective of COVID-19’ (2020) Sci. Total Environ 728
Symmes Cobb J, ‘Lawyer asks UN to intervene with Cerrejon mine on behalf of indigenous Colombians’ (Reuters, June 18 2020) <https://www.reuters.com/article/cerrejon-colombia-idUKL1N2DV1FE> accessed 8 May 2021
Tabuchi H, ‘Trump Got Nearly $1 Million in Energy-Efficiency Subsidies in 2012’ (The New York Times, 3 March 2017)
Tobías A, Carnerero C, Reche C, Massagué J, Via M, Minguillón M C, Alastuey A, Querol X, ‘Changes in air quality during the lockdown in Barcelona (Spain) one month into the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic’ (2020) Sci Total Environ 726
Wang Q, Su A, ‘Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Environment – a case study of China’ (2020) Sci Total Environ 728
WHO, <https://covid19.who.int/> accessed 1 May 2021
[1] WHO, <https://covid19.who.int/> accessed 1 May 2021.
[2] Q Wang, A Su, ‘Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Environment – a case study of China’ (2020) Sci Total Environ 728.
[3] A Tobías, C Carnerero, C Reche, J Massagué, M Via, M C Minguillón, A Alastuey, X Querol, ‘Changes in air quality during the lockdown in Barcelona (Spain) one month into the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic’ (2020) Sci Total Environ 726.
[4] S Saadat, D Rawtani, CM Hussain, ‘Environmental perspective of COVID-19’ (2020) Sci. Total Environ 728
[5] D Carrington, ‘Air pollution linked to far higher Covid-19 death rates, study finds’ (The Guardian, 7 April 2020) <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/07/air-pollution-linked-to-far-higher-covid-19-death-rates-study-finds> accessed 8 May 2021/
[6] African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, American Convention on Human Rights
[7] Benjamin Chavis, ‘Preface’. In Unequal Protection: Environ-Mental Justice and Communities of Color, edited by Robert D Bullard, xi–xiii (Sierra Club Books, 1994).
[8] Julia Symmes Cobb, ‘Lawyer asks UN to intervene with Cerrejon mine on behalf of indigenous Colombians’ (Reuters, June 18 2020) <https://www.reuters.com/article/cerrejon-colombia-idUKL1N2DV1FE> accessed 8 May 2021.
[9] Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood & Ibukun Jacob Adewumi, ‘Toxic waste dumping in the Global South as a form of environmental racism: Evidence from the Gulf of Guinea' (2020) African Studies 285-304.
[10] R Bullard, ‘Residential segregation and urban quality of life’ in Environmental justice—Issues, policies, and solutions, edited by Bunyan Bryant (Island Press, 1995).
[11] Julian Agyeman at PIEL UK 15th Annual Conference (Online, 13th April 2020) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBi34ZatuDw> accessed 8 May 2021.
[12] Julian Agyeman, Robert Bullard and Bob Evans, Just Sustainabilities: Development in an Unequal World (MIT Press, 2003).
[13] S 2155—the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.
[14] N Popovich, L Albeck-Ripka, K Pierre-Louis, ‘The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here's the Full List’ (The New York Times, 2 June 2019).
[15] H Tabuchi, ‘Trump Got Nearly $1 Million in Energy-Efficiency Subsidies in 2012’ (The New York Times, 3 March 2017).
[16] Climate Plan, <https://joebiden.com/climate-plan/> accessed 8 May 2021.