COVID-19 is an invisible harbinger of an even greater threat to humankind that we have repeatedly chosen to ignore, the present climate crisis.
The world’s top scientists had warned us that we’ve less than a decade to reverse the destructive trend of overconsumption, massive energy use via non-renewable sources, pollution and CO2 buildup that mar our beautiful planet and threaten all life.
Nevertheless, recent levels of energy use and resultant increased CO2 emissions fly in the face of these warnings, as if people just don’t care, nor want constrains on their actions.
Yet, this minuscule virus has forced us to take immediate and strong action.
Do we need this virus to prove that, when necessary, we can take responsible, effective action to avert the precipice we have been for too long ignoring?
If we weren’t facing COVID-19 now, we still will be facing a far worse crisis from runaway climate change in just a few years.
We may well regret not being better prepared for this pandemic, and wish we had more masks and ventilators.
Better preparedness, especially in this time of this pandemic crisis, is vital.
We must now prepare to face that other current but neglected crisis, global warming.
Alfredo Quarto
Port Angeles