Discussion Forum - I

Dear Post Graduate Diploma Program Students,

This year, in particular, has made each country in the world realise their own
strengths and weaknesses to cope up with the consequences of the outbreak of Covid-19. Few
countries are experiencing declining trend in the number of new cases, however, there are
few countries, for example India which are experiencing a surge in the trend of new cases.
Countries are feeling both short term and long term impactsbecause of the pandemic.

This is the first Discussion Forum for the May 2020-21 batch and thiswould be
related to the current pandemic and the way countries have adapted to living in these
situations where one has to still practice social distancing, to observe on how countries are
performing after successfully flattening the curve and how countries with huge population are
coping up to control the spread of infection while reopening their economies.
 The consciousness regarding climate change amongst people is witnessing an increase
and atransformation, quite aptly, considering the aggravated plight of humans with the
outbreak of Covid-19. A combination of adaptation and mitigationresponses are being taken
up by the international community at large and by governments at national level. While the
implementation of both adaptation and mitigating techniques might prove out to be a
significant action in these uncertain times, however, the reality of our vulnerable and
unapologetic selves is only a reminder of how humans have disrupted the ecological balance.

In India we saw different trends in air pollution asthe PM 2.5 levels in Mumbai,
Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad dropped by a remarkable 45-88 per cent
during the lockdown period, according to the Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE).1After a few weeks, it was observed that "pollution registered a comeback" when the
lockdown restrictions were relaxed as the economy reopened2.

This indeed poses some critical questions- What is ‘normal’? Can we really go back
to the so-called normal after surviving a pandemic or when we are coping up with the
consequences of the pandemic? If yes, then would we want to re-visit that normal at the
behest of development, measured solely through Gross Domestic Product? Is it time for us to
realize the mistakes of our past, of our unsustainable growth models, of wildlife exploitation?
Can we continue the way we have been, a development path which has remained unchanged
since World War II? A path which so far has refused to adapt to grave environmental
problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture
and constructionactivities etc.?

In our battle to improve living conditions and raising people out of poverty, we have
continued to function in a way which is not symbiotic to our natural surroundings. It is no
wonder that the current Covid crisis is being considered as a result of humanity’s destruction
of biodiversity that has created the conditions for new viruses and diseases.In this regard, a
concept called as‘planetary health’,has emerged that seeks to provide solutions for protecting
our planet’s health as it recognises that the human health and health of our planet are
interlinked. The goal is similar to that of creating the notion of ‘one health,’ that broadly
imbibes the wellbeing ofhumans, animals, plants and entire ecosystems.

1
Hindustan Times Auto News, With return of vehicles, restart of industries, air pollution turns severe again,
June 2020 https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/with-return-of-vehicles-restart-of-industries-air-pollution-
turns-severe-again-41591442606457.html
2
See Supra
Please present your views on the following:

The governments all over the world are facing extreme challenges to respond to Covid-
19. The environmental challenges that the governments are trying to deal with are
compounded with the issues such as unemployment and economy slow-down. The pandemic
has threatened the progress that the countries have made in the past.

a) Is it the right time for countries to use the pandemic situation as a skateboard and
formulate recovery models or policies whichintegrates sustainability and economic
development? The current situation demands us to rethink on how and how much do
we produce and consume. Suggest ways on how the countries can reboot their
economies by redefining the relationship between environment and economy.Why do
we need green framing for post-pandemic relief and recover?

b) Do you think the international financial institutions play an important role in uplifting
the developing nations to build resilient solutions to both the Covid-19 pandemic and
climate change. Do you think by having green fiscal policy or green budgeting, the
countries can be better prepared to deal with the current situation.