Hope or Anxiety

Volunteer rescue team clearing flooded streets

We’re in a new decade and already it is setting the scene for what the future may bring. The outbreak of Coronavirus in China has highlighted issues ranging from the risks with ease of travel and connections to others, through to the supply chains of businesses and the damage to ‘just in time’ processes

Storms in the last few weeks have shown that we face increasingly frequent and severe weather events and highlight some of the hazards faced in changing land use. With violent storms producing vast rainfall over short periods we depend more than ever on the ability of our uplands to slow water flow, to retain moisture in the soil. That much of our upland areas are drained to provide habitat for non-native species, reared so that a few can kill them must be questioned. Surely naturally damming of water courses (perhaps by beavers), the planting not just of trees but of whole forests and the management of upland areas for the wellbeing of all would be a wiser investment for our future than the erection of temporary flood defences. The flow of water needs to be slowed, perhaps captured, not simply diverted. Perhaps as we also face hotter summers we will also need more water storage, more upland reservoirs, again creating facilities for other health and recreational activities.

Seen together, health crises and dramatic weather can be linked. Our ease of international travel means diseases spread quickly. This same ease makes ‘just in time’ production work. However the impact of rapidly transmitted disease also slows the supply chain when production lines are halted. The improvements in atmospheric pollution levels seen as a result of quarantine action in China demonstrate not only the contribution of manufacturing, travel and transport to climate damage but that with the right will, we can rapidly affect our climate positively.

How do we act?

Understanding our communication systems, identifying damaging impacts, and engaging with others can all produce positive results. Being mindful of our own resource use, our own lifestyles and making changes to benefit the ecosystem we are part of can send the message that no action is too small, it will have consequences. Maybe in improving our own health (walking instead of driving, eating less meat), maybe in enthusing others, and just possibly in sending messages that we want things to be different, we want everyone, citizens, politicians, businesses, to be responsible for our future and that of our children. Achieving this even on a small but replicable scale brings hope and reduces anxiety. We are now Global Citizens, facing all the hazards and opportunities inherent in such status. We can act together, addressing issues for the benefit of all.