Two Crises at Once

As the pandemic continuously wreaks havoc on people’s lives, I can’t help but remember the prominent global issue that was in the forefront before this one hit: the climate crisis. Unfortunately, as a new disaster hits, the other does not disappear. Perhaps the things we’ve learned from living through the deadliest virus of modern times can help us against the issue that is constantly threatening the planet we live on.

COVID-19 and climate change are not that different. Both are global issues, both require governments to step up and enforce important policies, and both require a change in lifestyle for many people. Most importantly, both affect low-income and marginalized communities the most. Though the virus doesn’t discriminate, those that must work in order to survive and cannot work from home are at higher risk than others. Those who don’t have high paying jobs or savings to fall back on are economically disadvantaged during this time. Within the scope of climate change, these issues are also present. Climate change doesn’t discriminate either, but those who live in low-income communities are the most vulnerable. This ranges from inner-city residents suffering from air pollution to island nations whose homes are being swallowed up by the rising sea. In both situations the powerless are the most exposed, and the rich are the ones who will certainly brave the storm more easily.

Essential workers in the United States are also often paid below a living wage. In the U.S. the living wage is calculated at $16.14 per hour—before taxes—for a family of four, while many essential workers, like those in the service industry or cleaning industry, are paid the federal minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. This can include healthcare workers and emergency service employees, but also the lower paid and less appreciated home health aides, housekeepers, cooks, waitresses, and more. They don’t have decent insurance. They may not have savings to fall back on. They can’t just leave their jobs to avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19 because they don’t have the resources required. Throughout the nation, essential workers earn, on average, 18.2% less than employees in other industries, and some states see discrepancies that are even worse than this, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These individuals must go to work because they don’t have the option of staying home, but if they get sick, they may not be able to pay for treatment. The same people are currently, and will be even more so in the future, harmed by climate change. If their homes are flooded because of increased natural disasters, they are out of a home. If the air pollution in their communities gets worse, they are often powerless to stop it.

There’s another incredibly dangerous similarity between the two crises. Human beings tend to think best in terms of what is right in front of them. When the virus first appeared, people stayed home. They were scared. They were watching people die by the hundreds every day. But now, a mere three to four months later, there are protests around the country to get states to lift stay-at-home orders. Businesses are opening back up. Some customers are refusing to wear masks when they go to the grocery store, as they believe mandatory orders to wear masks infringe upon their freedom. Unfortunately, this is parallel to the reaction to climate change. Some call it a hoax. Some claim that it’s not a big deal. Additionally, it seems that corporations are still held in higher importance than human lives. Big businesses were bailed out immediately, while many Americans are still waiting on their stimulus checks. Governments are demanding the economy be reopened because corporations have convinced us that it’s work or die. This is disturbingly similar to the climate crisis: why should we try to create a cleaner economy if the current one earns the top billionaires more money for their pockets?

What can we learn from the pandemic that will help us as the climate crisis worsens in the future? Because one thing is for sure: the path we’re on now means things will only get worse.

The pandemic started as an in-your-face problem, and people followed the rules. However, the more it became a long-term issue, the less people wanted to comply. This is the same sentiment demonstrated with climate change: “It isn’t affecting me now, so who says it ever will?” But it will. It’s hard to change a lifestyle, it’s hard to demand from our representatives what is right, and it’s hard to fight those that make money off of the status quo. We must try though.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest global crisis since WWII. However, it will not be the last, and we cannot forget the global event that is always occurring in the background. The climate crisis gets worse and worse every day. This pandemic has shown us that our actions make a huge difference: most people stayed inside for a few weeks and air pollution in huge cities cleared, wild animals spread out more, and oil prices have gone down. People are now going back outside, and I fear that they are going back to their normal routines too early, because though it’s right here and already affecting millions of people, the climate crisis still feels too far away. If we stand up for what’s right and for those that cannot stand up for themselves, we can take on the powerful forces behind the current state of the world.

Some of us came together during this crisis. Many people stayed at home – they understood that science was the only thing that they could listen to. This could be a lesson for the climate crisis. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

By Kirsten Lootens

NYU Student who spends her time reading, eating ice cream, and dreaming of a better world.

Art by Madison Seidman