Community awareness is an effective means of achieving environmental sustainability post-COVID-19. The pandemic has shown the close connection between humanity and the planet. Community awareness empowers members to participate in sustainability efforts through education, engagement, and ownership of solutions. This involves raising awareness of issues like controlling deforestation to avoid disease transmission, encouraging sustainable consumption, and adopting sustainable practices. Sustainability ambassadors play a key role in driving community awareness efforts through leadership by example, community outreach, and self-development.
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Hhamma env sust_covid19
1. COMMUNITY AWARENESS AS A
PANACEA FOR FOSTERING
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
POST-COVID-19
Hadiza Hamma, (Ph.D.)
Faculty of Law, University of Abuja
2. Introduction
โWe need to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the futureโ
โ United Nations Secretary-General
๏ต COVID-19 has shown that more than ever, humanity and the planet are inextricably connected and so
the health of one influences that of the other.
๏ต Community awareness is an effective means of achieving Environmental Sustainability
Humanity
Planet
Environmental
Sustainability
Community
Awareness
3. Key Concepts
Sustainable Development
โข1987 report of the World
Commission on Environment
and Development
โขโDevelopment that meets
the needs of the present
without compromising the
ability of future generations
to meet their own needsโ.
โข3 Pillars of Sustainable
Development
(Environmental, Economic,
Social)
Environmental Sustainability
โข Protecting the environment
against degradation
โข Ensuring that in meeting our
needs for water, food, shelter
as well as engaging in
activities that make our lives
enjoyable, we donโt cause
damage to our environment
or unduly deplete resources
Community Awareness
โข Community is defined as a
group of people who inhabit
a common geographical area
and who share common
characteristics.
โข Community could also mean
the condition of sharing or
having certain attitudes and
interests in common
โข Community awareness
means being in the know;
consciousness or
responsiveness through
which community members
are empowered to own the
change they want to see
4. COVID-19 and Environmental
Sustainability
POSITIVES
Improved Air Quality
Reduced Noise
pollution
Sustainable
Alternatives
NEGATIVES
Increased Sanitary Waste
Contamination of common
spaces
Restrictions affecting
sustainability
Increased poverty
6. Community Awareness for Environmental
Sustainabilityโข Communities need to be empowered to understand their roles and responsibilities and how they can foster sustainability in
their environment.
โข It therefore extends beyond mere knowledge to engagement and participation in sustainability efforts or initiatives.
โข Several aspects of the SDGs draw attention to significance of community for sustainability, e.g.,:
๏ผ SDG 6b: โSupport and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation
managementโ
๏ผ SDG 12.8: โensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable
development and lifestyles in harmony with natureโ
โข Agenda 21: creating competence in individuals who will then be able to tackle problems related to environment and
development. Through (1)reorientation of education towards sustainable development, (2) improving public awareness
and (3) providing training support
โข SDG 4 calls for โeducation for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles,โฆand appreciation of cultural diversity
and of cultureโs contribution to sustainable developmentโ
HOW?
7. Some Issues for Community Awareness Post
COVID-19
Awareness about consequences of human and animal interaction e.g., need to
recognise the link between wildlife markets and pandemics
๏Controlling deforestation to avoid animals moving into human settlements e.g.,
Habitat encroachment forces animals to move into human settlements and increases the
likelihood of new viruse infections.
๏Encouraging sustainable consumption e.g., replacing beef with plant-based
proteins such as beans
๏Engaging community and businesses to adopt sustainable practices, e.g., proper
waste disposal.
Community initiatives that improve not only the environment but also benefits
individuals e.g., by providing convenient walking routes
๏Community sustainability fund
8. Role of Sustainability
Ambassadors โNever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed, itโs the only thing
that ever has.โ
-Margaret Mead (American anthropologist, 1901โ1978)
โข A healthy planet is key to the ability to rebound from the
current crisis, prevent future pandemics or at least be
prepared if they occur.
โข Need for conscious efforts at all levels of society
โข Sustainability ambassadors at the forefront
Community
Awareness
Sustainability
Ambassadors
Be the change (live
by example
Engaging schools,
public places, etc.
Community
gatherings
Self-development
(knowledge and skills)
9.
10. References
โWhat Is Environmental Sustainability and Why Is It Importantโ (2017) Sustainable Friends
<http://www.sustainablefriends.com/what-is-environmental-sustainability-why-is-it-important/>
Amy Y. Vittor, et al โHow deforestation helps deadly viruses jump from animals to humansโ (2020) The Conversation
<https://theconversation.com/how-deforestation-helps-deadly-viruses-jump-from-animals-to-humans-
139645?utm_medium=amptwitter&utm_source=twitter>
Bergstrom, D., Rose, K., Olinger, J., & Holley, K. โThe Sustainable Communities Initiative: The Community
Engagement Guide for Sustainable Communitiesโ (2014) 22(2) Journal of Affordable Housing & Community
Development Law,191-211. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/24389776>
Corinne Le Quรฉrรฉ, Robert B. Jackson and Matthew Jones โTemporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during
the COVID-19 forced confinementโ (2020) 10(7) Nature Climate Change 1-7. DOI: <10.1038/s41558-020-0797-x>
D. Mebratu Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Historic and Conceptual Review, (New York, Elsevier
Science Inc.,1998), 501.
Damian Carrington โPandemics result from destruction of nature, say UN and WHOโ The Guardian (2020)
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/pandemics-destruction-nature-un-who-legislation-trade-green-
recovery>
Dominique Hes โImpact of community engagement on sustainability outcomesโ(2017) <https://cpb-ap-
se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.unimelb.edu.au/dist/b/232/files/2017/07/Next_Gen_Expert_series_D_Hes-1c4ud7u.pdf>
11. References Contโd
Inger Andersen and Jimmy Smith โHuman health, animal health and environmental health are inextricably
linkedโ(2020) Mail & Guardian <https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-07-12-human-health-animal-health-and-environmental-
health-are-inextricably-linked/>
M.C. Cordonier Segger, Ashfaq Khalfan and Salim Nakjavani, Weaving the Rules for Our Common Future: Principles,
Practices and Prospects for International Sustainable Development Law, (Canada, Center for International
Sustainable Development Law, 2002), 14.
Sorin Cheval, et al โObserved and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Environmentโ (2020) 17 Int. J.
Environ. Res. Public Health, 4140
United Nations โClimate Change and COVID-19: UN urges nations to โrecover betterโโ (2020)
<https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/un-urges-countries-%E2%80%98build-back-
better%E2%80%99>
United Nations Economic and Social Council โPromoting sustainable developmentโ
https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/content/promoting-sustainable-development
World Commission on Environment and Development, Our common future, (Oxford, Oxford University Press 1987).
Zakia Afrin, โForeign Direct Investments and Sustainable Development in the Least-Developed Countriesโ(2004) 10,
Annual Survey of International and Comparative Law, 215