Lockdown taught us to let Mother Earth breathe. But did we learn our lesson?

Around 2010, a once little-known island in central Philippines, rich with coral reefs and white sandy beach beaches, began to catch on with travellers. The locals rose to the occasion, rapidly opening resorts, cafés and clubs to attract more visitors—and it worked. Soon they were enjoying record numbers in tourism, and creating more jobs for their own citizens. Unfortunately, what they were also creating was an environmental catastrophe.

By 2018, the beaches of Boracay were compared to cesspools due to the failing sewage infrastructure. Developers constructed buildings in biodiverse wetlands. Their water system and storm drains became compromised. A recognizable odor developed. The conditions became so unbearable, that President Rodrigo Duterte mandated a 6-month closure of the island to tourists, so they could properly clean it up.

The following year, I visited the island to observe from the sidelines, as it continued to undergo its rehabilitation. No question about it, the closure was instrumental in restoring the natural beauty that had been lost to pollution, but the rules they set in place as they re-opened also made a significant impact.

They banned single-use plastics and litter. They limited the number of visitors that could gather on the island at one time. They reduced the number of available accommodations, and made proof of reservations at accredited establishments mandatory upon arrival. They eliminated smoking and dining on the beaches.

That may seem like a lot of regulations… but they’re working.
The turquoise waters sparkle clearly again.
Palm trees sway in the breeze.
Mother Earth responds in kind.

On a much larger scale, last year, as a result of the global pandemic lockdowns, the world saw the reduction of over 2 billion tons of global greenhouse gas emissions. Marine life also enjoyed more peace and quiet in their ocean homes than they’d experienced in decades. The Himalayas were visible in places they hadn’t been before.

Despite the volume of horrible outcomes that resulted from Covid-19, the one consistently positive news story we heard about was the environment. With all of the humans in hiding, so to speak, the natural world began to regenerate. It was encouraging—a spark of hope for change in an otherwise dark time.

However, by the end of the year, Gridlock returned as did our habits of excessive consumption. Albert Einstein is credited with saying that the definition of insanity is “doing something over and over again the same way, expecting to get different results.” So clearly, we humans must be insane.…

On this 51st anniversary of Earth Day, we should all take a step back and ask ourselves if we’re doing enough to be a responsible steward of Gaia, Mother Earth.

• Do we really need to commute to work? Of course, many people do, but as we learned from lockdown, there are millions of jobs that can be done successfully from home.
• Can we make better decisions about our food sources? Yes, we can, and this International Regenerative Farm Map may help you find great locations in your area to purchase from (alternately, you can suggest places to add if your favourite farm isn’t listed). Choosing local items while shopping at your neighborhood grocery also helps.
• Do we have to purchase products in non-recyclable containers or choose items with plastic packaging?  We don’t, and by re-thinking the way we shop, and eliminating the demand, we can reduce the production of harmful single-use plastics, amongst other things…

These are just a few examples of ways to acknowledge the impacts of climate change caused by our behaviours, and modify them when possible.

Everyone can make a difference, even with minor adjustments to daily life.