Earth Day
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day it is hard to remember what our plans for today were before we became house bound. This isn’t an ordinary year. COVID-19 has dramatically altered the rhythm of our days and will continue to reshape our lives in ways we can’t foresee. That can seem overwhelming, disheartening, and frightening unless we remember that we are not defined by the challenges we face, but how we meet them personally, professionally, and as citizens of the global community.
The fact is that despite the ongoing COVID-19 global health emergency and the grim news that it brings, it is still spring. It is still a time of rejuvenation and growth, and a physical reminder of the indomitable power of the human spirit to renew itself and to grow from adversity.
Some of the lessons learned could even have positive impacts over the long term – particularly when it comes to climate progress. Scientists have catalogued the sudden plunge in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the large-scale substitution of telework and staying home for commuting and travel. Of course no one would have chosen to reduce pollution under such tragic circumstances – and, thankfully, stay-home orders aren’t permanent – but the change does help demonstrate that dramatic environmental progress is possible.
Scientists also point out an instructive parallel between the pandemic crisis and the climate crisis: If you wait until you can see the impact, it is too late to stop it. Climate experts like Elizabeth Sawin, co-director of the think tank Climate Interactive, explain that “the public is coming to understand that in that kind of situation you have to act in a way that looks disproportionate to what the current reality is, because you have to react to where that exponential growth will take you.”
Jane wrote an Earth Day article for the April issue of Architect Magazine back in February BC (Before Covid 19). It now seems like it was last year. Robert Ivy CEO/EVP of the American Institute of Architects and Jane co-wrote an article for Earth Day this week. She was also quoted in this Forbes article on why green building are more important than ever. Finally, another BC article from Architectural Digest on how the architectural industry is responding to the climate crisis.
