Ruths Table
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Viewing room
  • Ruth's Table Home
Menu

Artworks

  • All
  • Category Name
  • Category Name
  • Category Name
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Alisa Singer, COVID-19 and Climate Change, 2020

Alisa Singer

COVID-19 and Climate Change, 2020
Environmental Graphiti – The Art of Climate Change
Digital Painting
____

What’s Alarming
(*see links to graphs below)

Although Covid-19 has caused a dramatic drop in fossil fuel emissions for 2020 (nearly 8%), history shows this reduction may be transitory and likely to be immediately followed by a resumption of greater use of fossil fuels, as can be seen from the graph. “Indeed, since the Industrial Revolution, the world’s emissions have not gone down except briefly during economic crises.”*

And it’s possible the pandemic could create other obstacles to immediate plans to address climate change: “Economists and policy analysts say they are most concerned about how the current financial disruption could harm the efforts of countries, international organizations and companies to reduce emissions. They think any drop in emissions tied to the virus will be short-lived, while the continuing drop in oil prices could encourage more consumption and hurt demand for low- or no-carbon products like electric vehicles.”**

But other experts believe the renewable industry will continue its rapid forward movement only after a brief setback.*** In fact, renewable energy was the only sector to record a slight increase in demand during the pandemic.In Europe plans are forming to use the massive financial stimulus packages to support a renewable energy infrastructure. Many studies have shown more jobs can be created from supporting renewable energy investment than fossil fuels.

* 10 ways coronavirus is changing energy and climate change, Axios – Energy & Environment, Amy Harder, Mar 23, 2020

**Coronovirus Really Not the Way You want To Decrease Emissions, InsideClimate News, Dan Gearino, Mar 11, 2020

Utilities Embracing Renewable Energy As Oil Prices Slide, New York Times, April 8, 2020

What’s Inspiring

Perhaps there will be some lasting positive effects from this tragic pandemic. We may have all learned some critical lessons.

We have witnessed the results when governments - state, local and federal - take prompt and aggressive action in the face of a looming crisis and, too, the consequences arising from denial and delay. Pandemics, like climate change, do not respect international borders and nations have seen the mutual benefits to be derived when they cooperate to share information, support and resources. And the wisdom of relying on scientific expertise in fashioning political strategies and responses has also been made abundantly clear.

But perhaps, most importantly, people across the world have demonstrated a willingness to shoulder their individual responsibilities and to make necessary sacrifices to help solve a global crisis. We all now realize how effective those personal actions can be.

So, here’s the question: When the virus fades, will these lessons be forgotten, or will they carry over to inspire the efforts of nations across the world to address the urgent issue of climate change?

See graphs →

See graphs →

Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
58 
of  194

Ruth's Table
3160 21st Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Mailing Address:
Ruth's Table 

580 Capp Street

San Francisco, CA 94110

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Ruths Table
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences