Our reaction to COVID-19 could show us ways to solve climate change
Climate change is one of the biggest problems facing the globe in the 21st century, and Americans are falling behind. COVID-19 is showing us how the government reacts to crises: by banning work and throwing money at the problem. Of course, this is the exact same plan many American politicians have for the environment: new regulations and subsidies. Rarely do we see Washington take a nuanced or global response. But America’s strength isn’t in politicians. It’s in the people. The government can only stop activity; it cannot create newer, better solutions. Only the people can do that.
Policy cannot transcend outside our borders, but technology can. That is why it is so important to support the American Climate Contract and its goal to make climate solutions global. Companies can start operations in other countries or other nations will start their own to copy and improve on American techniques. Instead of a long, drawn-out process, the private sector can quickly adapt to better solutions. In the same way, many countries can copy our private sector’s response to this virus. We are keeping people fed while flattening the curve.
In the same way that the virus does not recognize borders, neither does pollution. Carbon emissions go into air shared by all of us. Straws go into the world’s oceans. A hole in the ozone anywhere hurts us all. We cannot continue to look at our governments— which are designed to only be able to control a certain area—for solutions to global problems.
Plus a free-market solution does not tack on all the baggage of legislation. Look at Congress’s COVID-19 response bill that gave $1,200 to many Americans. Along with it came a $50 billion bail out for airlines. In fact, out of the $2 trillion in the legislation, a fourth went to big corporations.
What will a sustainable future look like for America and for the world? We can take a look at lessons from the free market’s response to COVID-19.
Many Americans can work from home. Just the other day, my mother used Zoom to have an interview for a new job. Instead of long traffic-filled commutes, Americans can drive less and thus produce less emissions.
We can get food online. DoorDash and Postmates have allowed tens of thousands of Americans to avoid the road. Instead of one family going out to get food, one driver can deliver to dozens of households in a single trip.
Americans can go to the doctor online. My grandparents just had a doctor’s appointment online. Instead of getting out of the house and using up gas, they were able to FaceTime the doctor and get the instructions they need.
Companies are willing to give. From Spectrum giving free WiFi for three-months to local churches running food drives, we are seeing an unprecedented charity movement to help people affected by this virus. In fact, a local Dairy Queen is giving away one roll of toilet paper with a $20 purchase! Companies can help clean up if there are unfortunate disasters.
Most importantly, this crisis has shown that Americans can adapt. Within a month, we have changed many of the ways we do business. From cleaning more often to doing more curbside pick-up, companies are adapting to our new environment. I have seen restaurants have put in new drive-throughs just to keep their employees paid. In the same way, companies can adapt to new technologies and production methods that are greener and safe for the planet.
Americans should look at this pandemic as a chance to test our ability to adapt and to lead. We should use the lessons of this time to prevent damage to our climate. We can do it. But we have to have the courage to change.
Benjamin Myles is a junior studying political science at the University of Louisville.