[Ghost Written] Climate and extinction crises require urgent action
By Bonnie Rice
As published in The Hill, August 18, 2020
It’s been six months since the novel coronavirus hit the U.S. and forced us to start thinking about a “new normal.” In the time since, we’ve seen the weaknesses of our social systems laid bare. We are being forced to take an honest look at the world around us and our role in it, and it’s clearer than ever that we cannot separate our wellbeing from that of our environment and its wildlife.
Communities with the highest levels of air pollution in the U.S. face disproportionate harm from the novel coronavirus, while industrial pollution is attacking the health of vulnerable communities in previously unmeasured ways. Moreover, in the past five years alone, American communities have suffered through multiple “100-year” climate disasters. Mass extinction is happening faster than expected, and people are the cause. To protect ourselves, we must protect our environment.
This pandemic is a stark reminder ofthe importance of restoring a healthy balance in nature. When the balance is upset — by habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, pollution, and climate change — the risks to the natural system, and to us, grow.
The rapidly-accelerating extinction crisis is directly tied to human health. Scientists, disease ecologists and other experts warn that continued destruction of nature will result in even more pandemics. It’s proven that species exploited by humans have twice as many zoonotic viruses compared to those threatened for other reasons, and close contact between these animals and people help spread disease. Scientists also say that wild animals captured from their natural homes undergo significant stress and produce more viruses.
Quarantine has reminded us that nature is healing. Wildlife sightings lift spirits. Going for a walk, growing a garden, hearing birds or simply sitting outside provides us opportunities to connect with nature and feel refreshed.
Yet nature can’t protect and revive us if we don’t give it a chance. We must conserve wild spaces, and defend wildlife. In doing so, we can aggressively address the climate crisis, help stop the extinction of over one million at-risk animals, and preserve human health. Protecting wildlife must be a priority when addressing environmental and public health problems.
The bold effort to save 30% of remaining lands and waters by 2030 (referred to as 30 by 30) is crucial to this work. Ensuring that lands and waters maintain their environmental integrity — by not drilling, fracking or mining on them — will protect wildlife, wilderness, and the air and water on which we depend. When it comes to preventing future wildlife-transmitted viruses, protecting habitat is especially key. The United Nations predicts that pandemics like the coronavirus will even become more commonplace if we fail to act.
Thankfully, the solutions we need already exist. By protecting the Endangered Species Act, prioritizing funding for conservation, and championing 30 by 30 policies, we can preserve nature, and protect our own health.
Preserved habitat also boosts a $429 billion outdoor recreation economy — largely driven by wildlife watching activities — and provides spaces for people to get outdoors. In turn, science tells us that time spent outdoors boosts our immune system and mental health. Simply seeing wildlife reduces stress.
People, wildlife, and wilderness are part of one interconnected system. To save what’s left of our natural world we must start building a future that heeds nature’s urgent message, and responds with profound changes in our policies, attitudes, behaviors and relationships to all species. Safeguarding at least 30% of lands and waters in this country by 2030 is a great place to start. Much is at stake, but we can still reverse the trend towards extinction, and restore a natural balance that benefits us all.
