The Big Picture - Coronavirus' Impact on Environment

Global carbon emissions from the fossil fuel industry could fall by a record 2.5bn tonnes this year, a reduction of 5%, as the coronavirus pandemic triggers the biggest drop in demand for fossil fuels on record. The unprecedented restrictions on travel, work and industry due to the coronavirus has ensured several days with good quality air in our choked cities. Pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen across continents. Is this just a fleeting change, or could it lead to longer-lasting falls in emissions? That's what we discuss in the big picture today.

Guests -
1- Kalyan Varma, Wildlife Photographer & Filmmaker
2- R. R. Rashmi, Former Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment
3- Prof. C. K. Varshney, Former Dean, School of Environmental Sciences, JNU

Anchor - Frank Rausan Pereira

Producer - Sagheer Ahmad

[scorhigh]

Coronavirus' Impact on Environment

Air quality has improved- transportation curbed down, fuel costs and demand gone down
No2 level come down- 40% reduction in some places
water quality improved. eg: Yamuna, Ganga--> demand of water gone down and no industries effluents
Wildlife eg: Pandas pregnant- Hongkong

Issues:
Do not know till when this positive impact will last. As after 2008 depression there were positive environmental impacts but deterioration caught up and even exceeded.
Effect SDG goals in a huge manner.
Food availability and food security with approaching summer.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic countries might miss on their climate change and SDG targets.

Can the environment and development coexist:
both go hand in hand
Sustainable development process
concern for decarbonisation, natural resource conservation
reduce dependence on fossil fuels, loss of biodiversity minimised

Way forward:
Need coordinated global response.
Developing countries have done better than developed countries.
Need committed governments and community.
Respect for environmental regulations, biodiversity and biosafety rules.
Sustainable process of economic development.
Climate change is a slow pandemic which we do not realise and the coronavirus situation can be taken as an example.
A different approach towards community relationships.
Vulnerability of the population does not depend on the genetic code.

[mohitkumar-wqit]

English subtitles should be on each & every program

[sourabhp]

topics raised by Frank
1) what kind of impact Covid 19 has had on environment
2)how does one working close with environment feel about the current situation of wild life and environment coming back
3)is the effect a fleeting change or a long lasting one
4)How serious is the world about the climate change and environment
5)whether environment and development can coexist
6)lessons learnt from the current crisis

[jeju]

"Last thing I want to say...
Before I come next in the discussion "😂😂

[mohitdighal]

1 thing I Love Frank Sir, He Don’t Intrapte Any One When They Giving Remarks...❤️❤️

[ameshification]

This was really fruitful. Let us ask India inc to rethink on Work form home concept.
Benefits:-
1. Environment
2.Person can stay with there loved ones instead of relocating.
3 State like Bihar provides almost 20% of IT engineers. They can stay at there home town and help there own state in revenue.
4. Rent Mafia will go away.
5. Cost effective for companies.
6. More we stay at our own home more we go out for trips. Help Hospitality sector.
7. People have more money to spend in improving there lifestyle.
8. Companies can gather there employ every 3 months in hotels for meet together. Help Aviation and Hospitality.
9. And last but not least bachelors will have good homely food Working from home.

[ANANTKUMAR..]

No one in India can defeat C K Varshney Sir when he speaks on the issue of environment. Even while asleep, he might speak remarkably well.😂😂

[KajalKumari-jzgb]

Thanks RStv for such a great "The Big Picture" debate .Now a days we hardly see such a knowledgeable and concerning tv discussion on Indian channel.

[subhashpachar]

Sir, RSTV aslo start the debate form home . It's good initiative. We are equally enjoy the dabte .
There is no big difference between studio debate or live debate (from home )

[रोशनपाटील]

Kind request to rstv. Make prof. Varshney as ur permanent panelist. Great to see a young old professor

[shambho_abha]

Professor varshney wanted to share all that he knows about environment..his area of expertise! 😛 Respect 🙏

[thefacilitator]

Professor's point is notable:
Some countries will loosen the environment laws post covid.

[govardhanayadavg]

Good discussion. But as the experts points that, governments may take aggressive actions to restore the economic slowdown caused by the corona outbreak, keeping the environmental effects aside. That should not happen. because environmental harm is permanent.

[snr]

Thanq RSTV for an interesting n eye-opening topic on the impact of Corona virus impact on the environment with the wonderful panelists hosted by Mr Frank....

[ujjwalkumar]

Mr professor... nailed this time...raise several issue, two sides impact, though giving the way forward, which is pre requisite....even though mentioned the, concerned as world are single handed dependent on globalization, which somewhat bring challenges over community consensus...

[manuchoudhary]

Nature always bounce back to cleanup itself, say all of them who taken granted the nature.

[saireddydaram]

The process of economic development should be more sustainable and ecosystems should be respected

[saireddydaram]

The Corona virus has told us to act globally collectively and cooperatively

Any IAS officer has generic and superficial answers, while kinds of professors and conservationists will always give better insight and new perspectives. Isn't the current process of choosing generic geniuses for administrative services and forest services should be changed? I mean, we should elect prodigies who have already done significant work in conservation before electing them as forest officers. Similarly, we should elect the secretaries to ministers on to those who have worked and have knowledge of the area in which that ministry works. More specialists in the bureaucracy than generalists.

[dailyfeeds]

POSITIVE environmental impacts -
Air, Water, Wildlife.
ISSUES:
- Food crisis and food security
- Increased Poverty
- Economic Disruption
- Difficulty in implementing SDG goals with a sharp declining economy.
- High chances of unsustainable practices to revive the economy.

LESSON LEARNT :
- Government and community can together tackle environmental issues.
- Pressurising China to shut wildlife trading.
- VICTIM - "It's a CLASS thing."
- Poor working class: worst affected by such measures against a global crisis.
WAY FORWARD:
- Reduced dependency on globalisation and internationalisation.
- Redefine and Redesign Development
- Environment + Development should go hand in hand.
- Sustainable practices.
- Renewable Resources
- Reduce fossil fuel use
- Work From Home.