Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG, Discussions are currently underway in which links are seen between the development of the current SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic causing Covid-19 disease and the issue of the potential increase in the importance of environmental policy, including primarily the protection of the biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Perhaps the development of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic SARS-CoV-2 causing Covid-19 disease will change the thinking of man about the importance of ecology, sustainable development of civilization, including the need to develop civilization according to the concept of circular economy and green economy. Man usually thought that knowledge makes man a unique being on planet Earth. However, such crises as the development of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic and their socioeconomic negative effects may change human consciousness in this matter. These types of crises caused by pandemics each time the occurrence of this type of reminder reminds man of how small and sometimes also completely defenseless against natural forces, elements, processes occurring in nature and some types of other organisms or parabolic factors such as viruses. Therefore, after the era of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic, there may be an increase in the scale of implementation of the principles of sustainable, pro-ecological development conducted according to the concept of circular economy and green economy. In connection with the above, there may be a growing relationship between the development of the current pandemic SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus causing Covid-19 disease and the issue of the potential increase in the importance of environmental policy, including in particular the protection of biodiversity of natural ecosystems.

What is your opinion on this topic?

Please reply.

I invite you to discuss the above issues.

Thank you very much.

Best wishes.

Dariusz Prokopowicz

YES

Yes

Article Predicting the impacts of epidemic outbreaks on global suppl...

The incidence of COVID 19 has sent a good signal to everyone - political leader, academics, professionals, young and old ones. The experiences heard, encountered and suffered will linger in our minds for long time. Thus, the tendency is that most people will be careful in taking decisions around nature and environment now. The fear of not wanting the repeat of this incidence will make everyone take the nature and environment seriously. The fact that most of the political players had a first hand experience of the attack of the covid 19 will make them remember and actually politically support idea of biodiversity conservation as well nature conservation.

The experiences will lead to more inward looking from various government, and the idea of green economy or circular economy, if well packaged by professional public officers may be accepted by these political leaders.

In my opinion, the COVID 19 affected people that can effect a change in polity, so, i am suggesting that professional public officers working in the Ministry of Forestry, environment, Water and natural resources need to sharpen their horizon and bring up policy proposal that is tailored to achievement of SDG goals in their various states, and country. And if professionals lead in accomplishing this goal, the political leaders will uphold more of those proposals and so, environment can gain from the COVID 19 experiences.

Today the greatest threat on the planet Earth is the invasion by the tiny particle causing Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus usually experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special and very advanced treatment. Older people and those having medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. One of the best practices to stay safe from infection is by washing hands or using an alcohol based rub (sanitizer) frequently without touching the face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it is important to practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

COVID-19 is transmitted via airborne droplets. Therefore, reducing the effective population density in public meeting places is the basic rationale behind the quarantine strategy favored by most countries responding to the outbreak. But as more and more people live in crowded cities, it becomes harder to control a pathogen that takes days to manifest.

COVID-19 is expected to seriously scratch the world economic profile. The global economy could shrink by up to 1 per cent in 2020 due to the corona virus pandemic, a reversal from the previous forecast of 2.5 per cent growth. The analysis by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and International trade (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/World-Economic-Forecasting-Model). The tourism sector is facing the worst crisis and the associated block like transportation has almost crashed.

The industries hardest hit by COVID-19, including commercial aerospace, travel, oil and gas, apparel/fashion/luxury and insurance, may get a slower recovery, though recovery may be quicker for domestic travel. The crisis has also amplified existing challenges or vulnerabilities in the aerospace and automotive industries, which is expected to affect their recovery rates.

Millions of workers all over the world are facing the bleak prospect of losing their jobs. Governments are considering and rolling out large stimulus packages to avert a sharp downturn of their economies which could potentially plunge the global economy into a deep recession as the packages are likely to be pumped from the monetary reservoir of the Nation to keep the existing socio-economic structure floating in the midst of the disaster.

The education sector is also oscillating pan world basis as the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis and maintaining absolute solidarity is a dream in educational institutions. Many countries have (rightly) decided to close schools, colleges and universities. The crisis crystallizes the dilemma between the policymakers who are facing the problem of closing schools (reducing contact and saving lives) and on the other hand keeping them open (allowing workers to work and maintain the economy). The severe short-term disruption is felt by many families around the world. Home schooling is not only a massive shock to parents’ productivity, but also to children’s social life and learning. Teaching is moving online, on an untested and unprecedented scale. Student assessments are also moving online, with a lot of trial and error and uncertainty for everyone. Many assessments have simply been cancelled. Importantly, these interruptions will not just be a short-term issue, but can also have long-term consequences for the affected cohorts and are likely to increase inequality.

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments.

Fresh air is the best ventilator and can serve as a unique natural remedial measure. The testament to that is not from COVID-19, but from SARS. A relevant case study to support this statement is the outbreak of SARS during 2003 in Vietnam. It was observed that there were deaths and extensive transmission in hospital having closed air condition system. On contrary, in a hospital with spacious rooms, high ceilings, ceiling fans and large windows kept open for cross-ventilation, there were no cases of transmission [1]. There were other factors, but the evidence suggests the ventilation may have a key role in combating the situation. This is the bottom line story that emerged from the 2003 SARS outbreak in Vietnam. The virus spreads easily indoors, not just by coughing but through breathing and conversation and hence proper ventilation is important to get rid of the rapid transmission. “According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus spreads from person to person when people are within about 6 feet of each other" through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Thus if a person spends time in spacious room with open doors and windows, the breeze will likely to disperse it and the probability of infection will reduce [2]. Air conditioned rooms have high probability of transmission compared to open spacious rooms where there is sufficient ventilation. The moral coming out from this discussion is to stay inside with open windows and not to congregate so that the air can disperse the germ. However, it is necessary to check the air quality as poor quality of air with GHGs and SPM may give rise to several other health problems, which may aggravate the infection. On this background, a study was conducted to scan the air quality change during the lockdown phase of COVID-19 in the city of Kolkata (India) on 2nd April, 2020 and compare the same with the data of April, 2019, when the COVID -19 outbreak was not visualized. We monitored 12 sites in the city during both the survey periods (Table 1) and used atmospheric carbon dioxide level (in ppm) as proxy to air quality.

Yes, there is a connection and I understand that we can come out stronger of COVID-19, to face the already existing problem of climate change.

- There is already some evidence that can relate the appearance of the virus to the impacts of habitat destruction:

https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/coronavirus-outbreak-highlights-need-address-threats-ecosystems-and-wildlife

https://www.publico.es/sociedad/coronavirus-destruccion-ecosistemas-primer-paso-pandemia.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=web

- Facts around the world show that air and water pollution had a severe reduction in this period of the COVID-19 advance:

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/asia/china-pollution-coronavirus-hnk-intl/index.html

Perhaps the human impact was the trigger for this process of apparent climatic self-regulation moment that the planet is going through?

Certainly the majority of humanity have been given cause to think about lifestyles and choices. At the same time, across the globe scientists/academics are having their research broadcast more widely. Consequently the world population may be ready to understand environmental predictions and the need for a rebalancing of government policy in line with urgent environmental/ sustainable imperatives. However whether key world leaders have the courage to question neoliberal practice and ask ..yet again.. for voters to consider a reduction to high 'western' consumerism. I sincerely hope so and consequently direct all my art practice towards conveying such a message. The predicted 3 degree temperature increase (above base) will bring more devastation and human suffering than experienced with COVID-19.

I really hope so, but I don't know if it is reasonable to expect it. For example, SARS-CoV-2 must be an opportunity for us to evaluate our appetite for meat and not just the bushmeat consumption by communities that rely on this resource. Unfortunately, the opinions and analyzes to date have been polluted with ethnocentric biases. Hell is other people, as Jean-Paul Sartre stated.

WORLDWIDE--Very hot summer?...Because the lack of airplanes flying, means that the high altitude cloud seeding the 37 million flights do every minute of every day, has been lost--so that means those contrail clouds will not be there to reflect the sun's heat back into space? See the article from 2010, https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Bright-Green/2010/0201/Airplane-contrails-and-their-effect-on-temperatures

I did a painting about this effect, above, at www.ecoseeds.com/art3.html with the title: "Title: "Mysterious signs in the skies above downtown Palo Alto, autumn 2016--the jet contrails are exhaust particles several miles high forming ice cirrus clouds, an interesting cloud-seeding planetary science-experiment, where in the United States alone there are 5,000 planes airborne at any given time, and daily 87,000 planes fly over the USA, and worldwide over 37 million flights per year." Acrylics on canvas, 8" x 8" Painting #51 in catalogue. Copyright image and text © 2016 by Craig Carlton Dremann, all right reserved.

• According to the United Nations data, more than 2.2 million people, mainly from developing countries, die each year from diseases associated with low water quality and poor sanitary conditions;

• Every day, 6,000 children die from diseases that can be prevented by increasing the quality of water and improving sanitary conditions;

• Annually more than 250 million people suffer from such diseases.

Against the above number of sick and dead, similar data on COVID-19, despite all its tragedy, represents much lower numbers.

The shifts towards the strengthening of environmental policy measures assumed by many in this discussion, that will follow the pandemic, should be considered, first of all, in the regional and cultural perspectives, and secondly, taking into account the funding opportunities for the activities proposed in the discussion.

What countries and regions are we talking about?

On the African continent, the regions often lack infrastructure for basic!!!! sanitation due to insufficiency of funds, and we are again discussing the rhetoric of innovative environmental policy.

The main problem of developed countries during the pandemic was unpreparedness of the health care system due to inadequate funding from the governments during previous years !

Only Germany had a sufficient number of hospital and intensive care beds.

In Asia, the cultural and historical specifics of eating wild animals also will not disappear in one day, even despite the issuance of legislative bans.

After the pandemic, the state efforts of developed countries will be directed, first of all, at restoring backbone industries of the economy and the labor market (especially in tourism&travel industries), and not to preserve biodiversity at all. And this will be connected with the current mood of the electorate, on which the position of decision-makers will depend (а scientist must understand that we do not live in an ideal world).

I hope that the use of the political moment and corresponding motivation will at least give an impetus to the revision of the principles of organizing and financing health systems in these countries.

Sadly, I believe the answer is clearly ‘No’. In times of crisis humans focus on short term survival, and well-being of their supporting community. I do hope that when we come out of the pandemic we continue our sustainability efforts and attempts to rebalance with the natural environment but I think this work and focus on COVID may be a set back. The over riding human response is always survival, and protection of family, community and the vulnerable. But, if you think about it from a population regulation perspective (and this will sound horrible from a human view perspective) but the best thing we could do for sustainability, biodiversity, climate change, and rebalance of the natural system is to let COVID run its course without putting in place any protections. We would not be racing to find a vaccine, and we would continue our lives as normal. Diseases like COVID are exactly what the natural world uses to rebalance. This is how all other populations of animals including insects, birds and fish are regulated to maintain a population size that stays in balance with the ecosystems around them. When humans interfere with that process (e.g. find a way to slow COVID, or any disease) we ultimately make things worse in the long run. There are better ways than doing this, however, but they require us to regulate human population by regulating birth rate to significantly reduce the number of humans on the planet. If we successfully did this we could continue to actively fight disease as we are currently doing, and achieve the sustainable world we hope for.

In Iraq the air polluted areas were effected severly by COVID-19, it make sense that pollution make the human more susciptabile to infection.

i think the answer yes, the humanioty need to readress the SDG's according to the leassion of COVID_19 pandemic.

Yes of Course !

The Covid-19 crisis in in relation with Biodiversity !

This crisis will allow us to better understand the importance of research on "Biodiversity". Indeed, this crisis comes from the "FOOD CHAIN" Animal-Man.

Yes it will as more and more people are lockeddown with no access to information on environmentalism but everything rotates on Coronavirus. The organizations and agencies in the areas on environment Management are nolonger play their role as they have no choice but focusing on Corona virus

During this crisis, we do not have to abandon our green habits, but some might have to be adapted for the foreseeable future as we continue to learn about Coronavirus and how this epidemic spreads. 

Of course, satellite images of changes in air pollution around the world demonstrate this.

It is undoubtedly a complex question, concerning the incredibly short memory that we humans can have even for global, massive and fatal events (evident for example in causes of armed conflicts, racism, occupation of territories, etc.). Control of dispersion and with it, of the consequences of a pandemic like COVID-19 is as much a responsibility of civil society as it is of governments and political entities, and it is there where memory is important for the behavior that define us in the future.

Some things, however, are changing in a purely circumstantial way. Wet markets, highly singled out (and very often vilified) as responsible for the origin of the pandemic have been closed like many other businesses as a consequence of statutory lockdowns, and online alternatives, with better hygiene standards (and capital from multi-million dollar corporations ) to provide these essential foods, are flourishing among a young population with an inclination for these services, and even in adults with a long-standing habit of shopping in wet markets, which could or could not destroy such an industry as it used to be before COVID-19. The aforementioned has great implications regarding sustainable development, because although the issue of hygiene is linked to its social element, the economy, and the passage of a complete industry, previously made up of producers and families to the hands of corporations, is another key element in the exacerbation of inequity as a threat to global sustainability.

J.

Another element to consider is the fact that the current "idling" of economy as a result of the pandemic will almost certainly imply a redouble in the productivity of industries worldwide when certain restrictions are removed, which could represent enormous environmental pressure on the resources and dynamics of the planet.

In the USA, April is National Poetry Month.. so a lot of people around the country, are having fun writing some Coronavirus Haiku, including myself with 73 offerings so far, at http://www.ecoseeds.com/virus-haiku.html --Some serious ones and hopefully a few funny ones, to give everyone some belly-laughs?

I would like to think that things related to environment will get better understanding and more sustainable human being behavior. Unfortunatelly, that ins't the case: in Amazon the forest burning has expanded as people is "distracted" surviving quarentine. Or worst, scientific minded people having to confront the negationist who deny the existence of the vírus. Also there is a growing manifestation of xenophobia against asians (mainly Chinese). In the political arena we see the desgusting undervaluetion of human life by some national politicians, like in USA and Brazil, where they take no responsibilities for the death toll despite their ignorant remarks.

Covid19 pandemic made it clear that all the pollution's are anthropogenic. I feel there will be a strong support not immediately but slowly after 1 or 1.5 years surge towards the environment and related will be focused.

It will in many ways - in times like these the role and importance of DFIs increases. More financing will become conditional and it should follow that the SDGs and Paris Agreement will be given an additional boost which will include a greater focus on biodiversity. There is a separate health dimension which is outside of my field.

Maybe. Now when attention is focused on pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks in general, it certainly is an opportune time to educate the public and policy-makers on the many linkages between protecting biodiversity and protecting public health.

Cleaner air has perhaps been the single greatest positive effect of the lockdowns on the environment.

Improved water quality

Liberated wildlife

https://amp.interestingengineering.com/7-ways-the-coronavirus-is-affecting-the-environment

The pandemic can have significant contributions to Carbon emission reduction since many industries and vehicle transports are under lockdown.

Dear Prof. Prokopowicz!

May I argue that escalating negative climate change phenomena such as stronger hurricanes, etc. will lead sooner or later to greater risks of new global pandemics.. The process of evolving coronaviruses,SARS, MERS, COVID-19 envisages further emergence of novel deadly virus in the future. A realistic argument here is:

"If the world has seen a scary future with the emergence of COVID-19, the future of our planet in a 3-4° C scenario takes us to an entirely different level of uncertainty, including in terms of health."" (with reference to:

Niklas Hagelberg (2020)."COVID-19 does not mean climate action is on hold"

24 April 2020, © United Nations Environment Programme, Available at:

https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/covid-19-does-not-mean-climate-action-hold

I think human kind does not have options to choose from:

Professors Josef Settele et al. (2020). " IPBES Guest Article: COVID-19 Stimulus Measures Must Save Lives, Protect Livelihoods, and Safeguard Nature to Reduce the Risk of Future Pandemics" 27 April 2020, Science and Policy foe People and Nature, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Available at: https://ipbes.net/covid19stimulus

Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst. Yours sincerely, Bulcsu Szekely

Following

I would like to add the following to the discussion above. Well, the current global socio-economic crisis caused by the development of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic (causing Covid-19 disease) should significantly change the pro-ecological awareness of people and the need to implement sustainable development in economic processes and everyday functioning of people. A lot of scientific data from climatologists research indicates that the global warming process has entered a strong upward trend and perhaps humanity has little influence on the change in the pace of this process. However, regardless of this, we should do everything we can regarding the implementation of the principles of sustainable ecological development, including the necessary ecological reforms, primarily in the energy sector by developing renewable energy sources, electromobility, development of organic farming, improving waste segregation techniques, recycling, etc. In my opinion sustainable proecological economic development conducted in accordance with the green economy philosophy, financed by green finance etc. is a new idea whose significance should grow in the future and be the main idea of ​​the development of civilization in the 21st century. In connection with the above, maybe the global sustainable development policy will be strengthened. Occurring epidemics of this type remind us of how small he is against the forces and laws of nature. Perhaps the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic causing Covid-19 disease will also force a person to consider this issue. One of the consequences of a pandemic is that man remembers that he is just one of the millions of different life forms that have been functioning on planet Earth for millions of years in balance between many species of life forms cooperating with each other, including flora, fauna, fungi and microorganisms with natural ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years. Perhaps in the coming years man will apply the principles of sustainable, pro-ecological development to a greater extent. Maybe we don't know that yet. Everything will be explained in the future. Currently, due to the development of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic causing Covid-19 disease, industrial production has dropped significantly in many places around the world due to falling demand and home quarantine. Consequently, environmental pollution has decreased in these regions of the world and greenhouse gas emissions have decreased. Perhaps the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus epidemic will increase the importance and discussion on the protection of natural biodiversity, maintain balance in nature, protect nature and the need to implement sustainable development principles to limit and slow down adverse climate change processes.

What is your opinion on this topic?

Please reply,

I invite you to discussion and scientific cooperation,

Thank you so much for participating in the discussion,

Greetings,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has inflicted huge economic damage and its impact is very difficult to assess. Almost every country of the planet have been affected by the pandemic. Rearing of wild animals is one of the important reasons for the spread of such pathogens to humans, resulting in environmental instability. The spread of infectious disease, COVID 19 is also an outcome of over exploitation of natural environment by growing global population. As a result, wild animals being driven out, come in contact with the humans. As such species might carry new pathogens, could be havoc as the COVID-19 impact.

There are some key lessons to be learnt from COVID-19 regarding environmental sustainability, environmental protection and sustainable development, which will lead to control the future pandemics. As such shut downs are effective in healing environment and ecosystems, air pollution level comes down and hence nature reasserts itself. For protecting the environment, we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution in ecosystems, adopt sustainable agricultural practices and stop disturbing wild habitats. For sustainable development government organizations and individuals should work together to fight this pandemic. Hence, man has to find out the route, causes and the ways to tackle such pandemic, so as to achieve the target of environmental sustainability.

Indeed it is.

Please answer the following question: Have you noticed any positive changes in your environment that may be the result of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic (causing Covid-19 disease) and / or a decline in the economic activity of many companies?

Thank you very much and best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG,

I would like to add a few words to the above discussion on this interesting topic. Recently, some discussion forms have been reflecting on possible and real positive aspects of the development of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (causing Covid-19 disease) pandemic. Of course, there are many negative effects. On the other hand, positive aspects are also being sought in every crisis. The positive aspects of a pandemic are mainly, usually an increase in people's interest in a healthy, pro-ecological lifestyle. People have increased their interest in factors that affect the body's resistance, e.g. healthy eating, smoking cessation, etc. In addition, there is growing interest in issues of sustainable development, environmental protection and biodiversity. In view of the above, positive aspects of a pandemic are seemingly few, but they are noticed and are very important. The positive aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic (causing Covid-19 disease) include, above all, a significant decrease in environmental pollution in many regions of the world that are highly industrialized and urbanized, but during the pandemic, many companies reduced the scale of their business, consumption of raw materials, including energy ones, was reduced, etc. In addition, consumption also decreased, and thus the amount of waste and garbage also decreased. Air and car traffic decreased, which also significantly affected the improvement of air quality. Significant improvements in air and water quality have been noticed in some places around the world, which is why the positive effects of the revival of nature in industrially and civilization-degraded areas have been noticed. In addition, the pro-ecological awareness of citizens is growing, including in terms of recognizing the need to protect the natural environment, protecting the biodiversity of natural ecosystems

What is your opinion on this topic?

I am asking for an answer and invite you to a discussion,

Thank you very much and best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dariusz Prokopowicz -- By posting this question, the Saharan Dust Cloud this week, may provide a test to your question, and one of your answers?

Several years ago, the USA came out with a series of postage stamps, called "GO GREEN"... that were supposed to encourage us, as individuals if we did very minimum efforts, we would make positive changes in for the environment, and that would be enough. I was so angry at those wimpy suggestions--I make up my own set of stamps.

The Covid is teaching us now...that we must ignore the wimpy suggestions being made for battling the virus... and for fixing the environment, and to achieve peace, and provide a minimum physical support for each individual worldwide. We must start the process RIGHT NOW, of re-thinking the whole structure of a civilization, in order for our species to have a chance to survive into the future.

This week, two important warnings from the planet itself... that we MUST expand our plans IMMEDIATELY, and start making the right economic investments and build strong political support for changes -- The Saharan Dust Cloud... that will cover the eastern USA this week, and the 100.4+ F. (38 C) in the Arctic Siberian town of Verkhoyansk, Russia. Dust cloud image from https://www.newsweek.com/giant-sahara-dust-cloud-map-where-weather-phenomenon-headed-us-1512853 --- from the Caribbean island of St. Barts.

The COVID and the planet, are trying to tell us, our species is on the wrong path and about to go over a cliff and we do not seem to see it--All we seem to want to do is get back to business as usual, instead of making the changes we absolutely need to make?

We must to take care of ALL of the people... on an equal basis, everyone with equal rights, free health care, free higher educations, and equal status, PLUS start the real battles, of Global Warming, desertification, and get rid of all of the nuclear and convention weapons on the planet? Just a few little things we never put on our "to-do" list, and have forgotten to do in the last 200 years?

If anything Covid-19 is demonstrating, it is the difficulty of responding globally to a spontaneous global Crisis. The modern belief that science and technology would provide human exemption from environmental constraints has definitely been overturned (I speak here in what in literature we call HEP - Human Exceptionalism Paradigm). The zoonotic origin of the virus also alerts us to the way we relate to nature, and that, in fact, we are an integral part of an interdependent whole. This should, first of all, lead to a reconsideration of concepts with that of sustainable development, sustainability, etc. I think that these concepts need to acquire new meanings and that, new concepts will probably be needed to redirect governance and human action towards a more preventive and proactive logic.

MILITARY BUDGETS suck away all... of the funds needed for the people's health and REAL National Security, like adequate housing, clean water, a sanitary place to take a poop, free solar panels for electricity--and also is sucking away money that could be used to start tackling Global Warming for example--

Compare the top Covid infected countries with the highest military budgets--

#1 USA - 2.5 million cases and the Military Budget is world's #1 $732 BILLION.

#2 Brazil - 1.3 million cases and the Military Budget is #11 $27 Billion.

#3 Russia - 620,000 cases and Military Budget is #4 at $65 billion.

#4 India - 509,000 cases and Military Budget is #3 at $71 billion.

#5 UK - 309,000 cases and Military Budget is #8 at $49 billion, etc.

... This study endeavors to explain the relation between air pollution and particulate compounds emissions, wind resources and energy, and the diffusion of COVID-19 infection to provide insights of sustainable policy to prevent future epidemics. ...Coccia, M. (2020). How sustainable environments have reduced the diffusion of coronavirus disease 2019: the interaction between spread of COVID-19 infection, polluting industrialization, wind (renewable) energy. arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.08293.

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected societies and organisations in an unprecedented way. This has resulted in negative impacts to economic and social issues, but it is a “blessing in disguise” for environmental issues... Barreiro-Gen, M., Lozano, R., & Zafar, A. (2020). Changes in Sustainability Priorities in Organisations due to the COVID-19 Outbreak: Averting Environmental Rebound Effects on Society. Sustainability, 12(12), 5031.

Hello everyone, thank you for participating in the discussion. Perhaps the current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (pandemic Covid-19) pandemic will increase public awareness of the need to protect biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Everyone can function more or less environmentally friendly, implement the principles of sustainable development in their activities and contribute to the protection of biodiversity within a defined range of their possibilities. It is necessary to promote the need to introduce the principles of sustainable development in various areas of human activity, in particular in the economic processes of enterprises and institutions.

In view of the above, I ask the following question: If the pandemic expires immediately, will the level of economic growth return to its pre-pandemic state? will the currently observed positive effects of reducing the scale of environmental pollution also quickly end once the pandemic has expired? Or maybe the current pandemic will cause a significant increase in the general public ecological awareness and this increased ecological, pro-environmental awareness, conviction about the need to increase expenditure on environmental protection, protection of biodiversity of natural ecosystems will also remain when the pandemic expires?

What do you think about it?

Please reply.

Thank you very much and best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

I am sharing a paper I have just published to contribute with the debate. Thanks!

Animal-based food systems are unsafe: SARS-CoV-2 fosters the debate on meat consumption

The current pandemic restarts a debate on permanently banning wildlife consumption in an effort to prevent further public health threats. In this commentary, we offer two ideas to enhance the discussion on foodborne zoonotic diseases in food systems. First, we focus on the probable consequences that the loss of access to wildlife could cause to the status of food and nutrition security of many people in developing countries that rely on bushmeat to subsist. Second, we argue that all animal-based food systems, especially the ones based on intensive husbandry, present food safety threats. To ban the access to bushmeat without a rational analysis of all human meat production and consumption in the global animal-based food system will not help us to prevent future outbreaks.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/animalbased-food-systems-are-unsafe-sarscov2-fosters-the-debate-on-meat-consumption/029924CEC89381158B7BA2A0F22A5087

Hello everyone, Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG, Thank you very much for participating in the discussion, for valuable tips and new insights on the above issues regarding the issues of entrepreneurship activation and innovation. In the context of the above discussion, I ask the following question: Will the positive effects of a pandemic on the natural environment, consisting in the reduction of environmental pollution caused by a spack of economic activity in many companies, also for the next pandemic waves will be small?

If by the end of 2020 over 90% citizens will acquire natural, social resistance to the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are the next waves of pandemics should no longer cause such negative health, social, economic and other effects. Therefore, the risk of another economic crisis caused directly (citizens' concerns in using public services) and indirectly (through the introduction of temporary bans on the provision of services by companies operating in the tourism, hotel, restaurant, shopping centers, service establishments, etc.) will be rather low (several times smaller than for the Koronavirus pandemic developing in the first half of 2020). Therefore, the positive effects of a pandemic on the natural environment, consisting in reducing environmental pollution caused by a decrease in economic activity in many companies, will also be small for subsequent waves of the pandemic.

I would like to add the following question to this discussion: Will the positive effects of a pandemic on the natural environment, consisting in the reduction of environmental pollution caused by a spack of economic activity in many companies, also for the next pandemic waves will be small?

What is your opinion on this topic?

Thank you very much and best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Please have a look at the link below:

Article COVID-19 and importance of environmental sustainability

Dear Harasit Kumar Paul, Thank you for the information provided and the link to interesting data in the above-mentioned issues. In view of the above, in my opinion, in recent years the importance of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic increase the importance of environmental sustainability, environmental protection, sustainable development...

I described this issue in more detail in my publication (on the issue of SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT determinants analyzed in the context of THE PRO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF CLASSIC, BROWN ECONOMY TOWARDS GREEN ECONOMY / CIRCULAR ECONOMY), which I posted in August 2020 on the Research Gate portal. Best wishes,

Have a nice day,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Yes it is.

Dear Tanvir Singh, Thank you very much for participating in this discussion. Best wishes,

Have a nice day,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Hello Dear Everyone, Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG, Yes, during the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic, environmental pollution decreased in many countries during the first wave of the pandemic. The decline in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions was greater with the lockdown in the economy, as many firms' economic activity decreased, and the demand for energy resources and various products decreased. But the next waves of the pandemic are unlikely to result in a corresponding decline in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as most countries do not plan to re-lock the economy to a large extent due to the increased level of public debt.

What do you think about it?

Please reply, Best wishes,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Your always welcome dear Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Tanvir Singh, Thank you very much. You are welcome. I am glad that we look at this issue in a similar way.

Best wishes, All the best, Stay healthy!

Dariusz Prokopowicz

The environmental triad, development, conservation, and sustainability navigate through the biofields and socio-environmental today. Deforestation, with loss of habitat, the most intense radiation on the bare soil increases the loss of water by evaporation, raises the air temperature, which causes greater proliferation of cosmopolitan vectors. The genesis of SARS-CoV-2 was in a shy area where the treatment of wastewater does not suffer collection and medicine, the ingestion of living aquatic individuals, or those killed after the sale. The blood fluid accumulates throughout the day in areas whose local hygiene measures is not correct or does not exist. A increases the risk of sustainable compromise, since contaminated fugitives, internal organs that are infected to decompose in the environment, are removed from the food and returned, in addition to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Yes absolutely

Yes! It should. Saving the environment and adopting new healthy habits are key.

Dear Antonio Pereira Junior, M.K. Tripathi, Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak,

Thank you very much for participating in the discussion and for answering the question: Will the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic increase the importance of environmental sustainability, environmental protection, sustainable development..? Thank you very much for confirming my theses. I am glad that we look at this issue in a similar way. Best wishes, All the best, Stay healthy!

Dariusz Prokopowicz

A pandemic of unprecedented magnitude has rocked the mankind. As per the reports and research the sight of origin of the outbreak of this pneumonia-like disease has been identified as Wuhan, Hubei province of China. The respiratory illness was found to be associated with a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which was later specifically named as “acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2) by World Health Organization (WHO). Millions of people around the globe have been infected, and several thousands have already perished. Apart from direct infections, almost every human on earth is going to be affected by this pandemic in one way or the other. The pandemic is going to inflict huge economic damages and the impact will be far-reaching, which is very difficult to assess as of now. In fact, this pandemic is going to have the biggest effect on mankind after the second world war catastrophe. Almost every country on the globe, except for a few island nations, have already been battered by the pandemic. However, looking at the magnitude of the situation, so far, no concrete scientific opinion is available to explain the original route of the transfer of coronavirus to humans. According to some reports, the origin of the deadly outbreak was found to be linked to Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, a wet market in Wuhan, China. Although the transfer route of the virus is not certain, one thing is assured that reservoir of coronavirus are some wild animals such as civets, bats, pangolins, etc. and most probably these are the source of this deadly virus to humans. As per World Livestock 2013 report of United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 70% of the novel pathogens/diseases emerging in humans are zoonotic in nature. According to the available data consumption of animal meat is increasing by the day, and some exotic wild animals have become part of the human platter; particularly in some parts of the world their demand is increasing as important portion of the diet. With most of the novel pathogens coming from animal sources this pandemic has raised several questions for mankind and its future.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7220565/

In the past 50 years, globally the average amount of meat consumed per person has nearly doubled and hence production rate (of meat) is also growing much faster. FAO warned that a growing number of meat consumers will be leading to a heightened risk of new pandemics.1 Moreover, the risk is very high in various parts of Central Asia and Africa to spread the novel pathogens/pandemics as wildlife is one of the important sources of meat and income for the population in these regions. Man-animal conflicts, ever-increasing livestock cultivation (particularly near the wild habitats), intermingling of cultivated and wild animals, and cultivation of wild animals are important reasons for spread of the novel pathogens to humans. All these factors relate to environmental instability which we have created on earth.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7220565/

Humans are perturbing the habitats of wild animals and the normal cycle of pathogens and their hosts. In such circumstances, we are becoming more and more susceptible to new diseases. A human pathogen like Coronavirus is not fully understood till date and there can be several other strains of this virus (and many other viruses and bacteria) in nature or their reservoir hosts of wild animals which can be a matter of global health security in future as well. COVID-19 pandemic is raising questions on our ongoing effort to improve the earth’s environment. Frequent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases and their global spread through human to human contact have made it even more important to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals (SDGs). There should be more emphasis on adopting strict wildlife trade regulations and comprehensive measures for the protection of the natural environment. Most important is to rethink on holistic approaches for improving our relationship with the environment that will lead us towards sustainability. Agricultural sustainability and reducing dependency on animal products is one such example.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7220565/

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting every part of human lives, including the physical world. The measures taken to control the spread of the virus and the slowdown of economic activities have significant effects on the environment. The pandemic situation significantly improves air quality in different cities across the world, reduces GHGs emission, lessens water pollution and noise, and reduces the pressure on the tourist destinations, which may assist with the restoration of the ecological system. In addition, there are also some negative consequences of COVID-19, such as increase of medical waste, haphazard use and disposal of disinfectants, mask, and gloves; and burden of untreated wastes continuously endangering the environment. It seems that, economic activities will return soon after the pandemic, and the situation might change. Hence, this study also outlines possible ways to achieve long-term environmental benefits. It is expected that the proper implementation of the proposed strategies might be helpful for the global environmental sustainability.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020318089

Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi,

Thank you very much for participating in this discussion and providing inspiring and informative answers to the above question: Will the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic increase the importance of environmental sustainability, environmental protection, sustainable development..? I am very happy to develop joint discussions on interesting topics in which we operate scientifically. Thank you very much for the rich, substantive information and explanations on the topic the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic increase the importance of environmental sustainability, environmental protection, sustainable development. Your perspective on this issue is interesting and very accurate. I agree with your opinion on this topic. This discussion confirms the importance of the above-mentioned issues and the legitimacy of developing research on this subject. Greetings, Have a nice day,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

I think importance of Environment has increased in COVID-19 pandemic period. Environmental sustainability is the result of shut down of industriai sector of developed countries.

Kindly check https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020318089

Dear Aijaz Panhwar, Yes, I fully agree with your opinion that the importance of the environment, nature conservation and biodiversity increased during the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic. The increase in the scale of environmental sustainability is the result of the decline in the activity of the industrial sector in developed countries. Best wishes,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi,

Thank you for the information provided and the link to interesting data in the above-mentioned issues.

Best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

The pandemic is accelerating its development again. The 2nd wave of the pandemic is currently developing (October 2020) in many countries. The rate of growth of infections is increasing. The following question arises, inter alia: Will the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic increase the scope of pro-ecological awareness of citizens and social environmental (ecological) responsibility?

Please reply

What do you think about it? Greetings,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Interesting question: Can a great crisis change our values? However, the answer at least this time is no.

Dear Antonio Franco-Crespo,

Thank you for your reply, for participating in our discussion. The SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic caused a global health, social and economic crisis, inspired a reflection on the drelations between man and the surrounding nature. However, the specificity of this crisis is different from the climate crisis that may arise in the future.

Best wishes,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

I Agree with Ghada M.Ismael Kamoona

Dear Ghada M.Ismael Kamoona

Thank you very much for your answer to the question: Will the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic increase the importance of environmental sustainability, environmental protection, sustainable development..?

You added a new perspective to our discussion, new, additional issues of connecting the issues of architecture, agglomeration, construction technology, etc. with the issue of ecology, sustainable development and relations and the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic on these issues.

Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Mohammed Habes,

Thank you for your answer. I am glad that you confirm the key theses that initiated our discussion for answering the question: Will the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic increase the importance of environmental sustainability, environmental protection, sustainable development..?

Thanks for participating in our discussion.

Best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

The SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic has caused a host of global, regional and local health, social and economic problems. So there are few positive aspects to a pandemic. However, these positive aspects can be seen in the change in thinking about the relationship between man and the natural environment. In 2020, the decline in economic activity meant a decline in greenhouse gas emissions in some regions of the world, and a decline in demand for energy and industrial resources. However, in 2021, a return to the high economic situation is expected, which may also mean a return to growing greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in the level of environmental pollution with various types of waste.

Therefore, the question is still valid:

Is the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic likely to have positive long-term effects, also in the following years in terms of a significant decrease in the level of environmental pollution, a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, natural resources, increasing the scale of recycling and developing a circular economy, an economy based on the green economy formula?

Was the pro-ecological trends noted in this matter in 2020 only a short-term improvement in this matter or, thanks to the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic, there will be a change in people's thinking, an increase in the scale of social environmental (ecological) responsibility, achievement of goals and implementation of the principles of sustainable development, including implementation of pro-ecological reforms of implementing eco-innovations in economic processes etc. also in the coming years?

What do you think about it? What is your opinion on this topic?

Best regards, Have a nice day, Stay healthy!

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Sure sir

These things always needed

Dariusz Prokopowicz Many thanks for sharing your opinions. I am in total agreement.

Dear M.K. Tripathi,

Yes that's right, it was always needed.

Best wishes,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Joseph Stroud,

Please. I am glad that we have the same opinion on this issue. Let's hope that thanks to the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic, man will change his thinking about relations with the surrounding nature and increase his ecological efforts to save the biosphere and climate of planet Earth.

Best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dariusz Prokopowicz Many thank Dariusz. It great to have your informed opinions on so many topic platforms. My best, Joseph

Dear Joseph Stroud,

Thank you very much for your positive recommendation and kind words. I am glad that we are discussing these various important topics together in the discussion forum of the RG portal, including on topics related to various aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic.

Best regards, Have a nice day, Stay healthy!

Dariusz Prokopowicz