Coronavirus and Climate Change: The intersection of action and mitigation

I am unable to stop noticing how similarly the efforts to stem the most serious impacts of climate change mirror efforts being made to stem the most serious impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

With regard to climate change we have been saying (for a very, very long) time, that we must act. We encourage individuals to do their part: refuse single use plastics by carrying their own reusable bags and bamboo utensils and straws everywhere they go, reduce consumption, reuse, repurpose, and recycle ♻️ recycle ♻️ recycle ♻️. We implore governments, businesses and corporations to believe the science and take bold actions to reduce their carbon footprints; to follow the recommendations of the scientists and environmentalists. We know that every individual action can and does make a positive difference in our collective efforts to save the planet from the most horrible impacts of climate change. We know from history that individual actions when taken together push governments, businesses and corporations to take actions they otherwise wouldn’t take. We are now in a climate crisis or climate emergency because action has been slow to achieve to tip the scales that move those bigger GHG emitters. Time is of the essence. Every minute and every climate action matters.

With regard to the novel coronavirus, we are hearing that we must act. We as individuals must follow science-based recommendations regarding washing our hands: with soap and warm water for twenty seconds or as long as it takes you to sing Happy Birthday to yourself. We must also not touch our faces (so shocked at how often I touch my face!). And, also important, to not go out if you are sick; and self-quarantine if you’ve been exposed to the virus. We are hearing that businesses, governments and corporations must do more: provide more testing and make ready the healthcare sector for the impact this virus will have, cancel large gatherings, conferences, and travel. We are hearing that individual action can stem the spread of this new virus, and will likely ensure that we can mitigate the worst case scenario. We must follow the guidelines being set forth by experts- scientists and physicians. All of our collective actions must be brought to bear against this health crisis to prevent the worst outcomes from befalling us. We know from history that our safety and health depend on people doing their part and governments and businesses doing their parts. Just like with regard to climate change. We must join together and do our best to save our people, animals and planet.

And the question that remains for both climate change and coronavirus is: Will we?

Will we listen to the experts, follow the science and undertake as many climate actions as we possibly can while pushing governments and businesses to make big changes too? Will we do as much as we can, including social distancing-avoiding big groups of people or gatherings and staying home when we are sick or exposed to sickness to stem the outbreak and spread of the coronavirus?

We will see.

Climate Change, Global Warming and the Search for a Vocabulary that Increases Climate Action among our World’s Population

Climate deniers and climate skeptics often cite extreme weather events that involve cold weather, snow, ice and etc., as evidence that man-induced global warming is a myth. This group of people attempts to confuse or muddy an issue that an overwhelming percentage of climate scientists, and, increasingly, the public, agree is happening and one that requires our urgent attention to prevent the worst climate outcomes from befalling our world. The average person living in the United States is beginning to understand that they can no longer continue to live without regard for the environment and sustainable practices at home, work and school. But while there is a growing chorus of voices calling for our government and those of the world to act in very bold and urgent ways, we still seem to fall into that all too human response of denial: “I’m just one person, what good can I do?” or “It’s hopeless, the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide and methane are not doing their part to remedy this dire situation.”

So, how can the severity of this situation be understood and likewise acted upon by our global community?

Previously, discussion concerning the on-going warming of our planet was occurring in groups that were unable to break into the mainstream discourse. Those climate scientists, environmentalists, and others working or studying the rapidly increasing rise in our global greenhouse gas emissions and with it the global temperature, have been heard with the signing of the Paris Agreement in November 2016.

Since then, there seems to have been a huge uptick in news articles acknowledging climate change and the threat it poses to virtually every part of our lives, including our safety and security. In addition to the increased number of articles, there are also more books being written, and classes being taught at all levels, including non-credit courses for the general public. With our heightened awareness comes our acknowledgement that this multifaceted problem requires an alarming level of urgency to act.
This increased focus on climate change is positive, and while there seems to be an increased willingness to talk about and recognize that climate change is happening, are we doing the best we can to connect climate change to the actual events and impacts of such events that we are already experiencing to provoke action? What is hindering the potential for urgent action, I believe, is the lack of a vocabulary around climate change events that prevents the general public from linking a specific event with our rampant greenhouse gas overuse. I live in a city that was hit by two “100-year floods” in two years. The magnitude of each brought millions of dollars in damage and loss of life. I still find myself reflecting on these floods with an aloofness that belies reality. My internal narrative of these floods as “100-year floods” gives me the opportunity to deny the gravity of the implications of climate change, which is that we could have these types of floods at any time because of the inherent uncertainty of climate change.

So, what can we do? We can create a new lexicon, so that when we talk about the horrible wildfires in California in 2018, for example, we call them, perhaps, “super-fires” and formalize the link between the fires and climate change to indicate that they are not the wildfires of the past, but part of the “new normal” that we are all beginning to experience. What about floods? What about the changes in agriculture and farming that will cause mass migrations? If we continue to talk about these events in a way that does not link them to climate change every time and that does not use universally agreed upon wording, we are doing ourselves and our planet a disservice. Because unless we find a word or set of words that means, “this flood or drought or mass migration is brought about by climate change” we will continue to give our human nature room for denial and not act expediently.

Lending a Hand

 

I found myself saying several words that I didn't think I'd say again, “I'm going to an After Prom Meeting tonight.” It was the “official” transition meeting. I turned over my knowledge and experience of being an After Prom Co-Chair for five years to the gal taking over for me. I was sad to hear that what I started to notice as I was in my last two to three years of volunteering at the high school was getting worse. There is no one coming up to replace those who volunteered before them.

There seems to be a shortage of folks willing to lend a hand (or two) for the PTSA at my kids high school. It's hard to know if the economy is to blame, in that more families have both parents working. Or, if the era of the over-involved parent is coming to its natural end, and somehow volunteering at school feels like “too much?” Or, if there are just too many areas that need volunteers, like Churches/faith institutions, Scouting, band, sports teams, and schools. Kids these days have a lot of extra curricular activity options, and most of those options require some level of parent or volunteer support. Not to mention there are a number of ways to disseminate and receive information. So, how do parents these days get their information? Where do they go? The school's PTSA website? Twitter? Facebook? E-mail? The hardcopy newsletters (mailed to every household via U.S. Mail several times a year) of “yesterday” are long gone, and with them goes one of the surest forms of communication and connection between the school and home. I have been actively (albeit intermittently) seeking someone to take over the PTSA Twitter feed for the school. I have not received a single inquiry. It takes very little time and can be done from home or work. And, still no one is interested. Likewise, the current After Prom Committee Chairs are trying to find the volunteers they'll need to successfully hold this year's After Prom party. It takes approximately 100 adult volunteers to ensure the safety and fun of over 600 students on one of the biggest night's of the kids lives-prom night.

I know they will do a great job, and I hope that the next generation of parents figures out the importance of being informed and involved in their kids schools until they become Empty Nesters, like us.

 

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Swimming, Shopping, Snow Preparations

 

I got a call from a friend this evening. She started out the conversation with, “It's time to panic!” I said, “Where are you, the grocery store?” I figured she was in a crowded store trying to do some last minute stocking up. Nope. She was on her way home from work. The snow had just started to fall and was already starting to accumulate on the roads. So, it doesn't look like this one is going to miss us. But, it's still early.

Luckily, earlier today, we were able to spring my mom from the hospital. She was supposed to be discharged tomorrow, and we had already begun mentally devising ways in which were going to get her and her newly replaced knee home in potentially a foot of snow. It was looking a bit tricky. But, fortunately she passed all of her tests today and was released. I was glad to be able to get both of my parents settled in well before whatever comes snow-wise.

Speaking of preparation, the other night when we were starting to do some pre-snowstorm shopping, John and I ended up having to go to two different grocery stores. The first one we went to was out of bananas. The snow panic had already started and it was only Monday! Who knew bananas qualified as “comfort food.” Anyway, I observed that there were literally dozens of couples around our age and older at the store. It was packed with them. I couldn't believe it. It was almost as if the store was offering discounts for older couples shopping together. I still can't believe I'm old enough to be an Empty Nester. It just doesn't seem possible. So, seeing this, this “thing” where we were doing what old people were doing… Well, lets just say, I noticed. Then, at the second store, I noticed it there too. It wasn't as crowded as the first store, but there were still a handful of couples shopping together. It's just an Empty Nest observation.

My friend Sue is getting to try out the Empty Nest this week, while her youngest is in Florida for a dance trip. This morning I made a comment about when she and her husband start grocery shopping together or something along those lines. She looked at me questioningly and said, “We don't grocery shop together (with the implied, What are you, crazy?”). And, I looked at her and said, “ You will. We didn't used to either. It appears to be a thing.”

Today was a great day at the pool! I not only got my swim practice in, I got the Winter Water Challenge long-sleeved t-shirt I earned. It is the cutest shirt. I earned it for swimming over 1000 minutes since the beginning of January (I think it's 1000 minutes.). Yay, me! Now, I have a cute penguin shirt to wear out to shovel. Thanks, CA and Swim Center for a fun and motivational activity. There are a lot of people swimming a lot of hours at that facility! It's a great way to stay healthy over the winter! Cheers to keeping us Empty Nesters (among others) healthy!

 

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Howard County United at The Mall

The Mall in Columbia at the time of its Reopening 1/27/14

 

I was at first a little unsure whether or not I wanted to go to the “re-opening” of our Mall at 1:00 PM today after the tragic shootings that took place on Saturday. I decided to head off to swim practice and see how I felt afterwards. I also wanted to see if anyone else was planning to attend. In the end, several of us went to lunch, but no one was able to head over to the Mall with me. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go. I had no reason not to go and one very good reason to go. I am a part of this community. I spent nearly all of my youth growing up in Columbia and all my years since college living in Columbia or Howard County. We arrived in 1972. My parents still live in the same house. Columbia is in every fiber of my being. I'm not sure people new to the area understand the level of love and pride some of us long-timers have for this place. I'm not sure I even get it. But, I do love it here in Howard County, and I do feel strongly about what happens here. So, I went to the Mall a little before 1:00 and waited for the doors to open. I wanted to be a supportive presence. When the group that had gathered at the doors to the food court (not where the press and county leaders were) and I entered, it was very strange. Not all of the stores and restaurants were open yet, and some were still dark and unoccupied. Everything looked spotlessly clean and empty of people. There were a lot of “greeters,” if you will, welcoming us back to the Mall. And, of course there were a lot of security guards and policemen/women. It was very weird. I made it around to a couple of stores, although I really didn't need anything. I did talk to the employees at every store I went in, which was my attempt to bring “normal” to the day. But, it was not normal. I noticed that there were other folks just being there, as well.

Memorial tributes

The memorial tributes were lovely and respectful. There was a long line forming to sign the memory/memorial books and to drop a flower into the fountain. And I could tell that since I did not end up seeing anyone that I knew well enough to sit and chat for a bit, and I did not have anything I needed to buy, I needed to leave. I am looking forward to going back to the Mall in the days and weeks to come, as it returns to its normal levels of business and activity. As for today, I'm glad I could go and just be, standing united with my community.

 

Memorial tributes – flowers in the fountain

 

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