The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Coronavirus Pandemic on Ecological Security and the Development of International Environmental Policy

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the global economy. In 2020, due to the pandemic, many countries experienced an economic recession, an increase in unemployment, a decline in the economic activity of numerous companies and enterprises, and, consequently, an economic crisis. Due to the decline in economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 a decrease in the level of environmental pollution took place. However, this decline was short-term and relatively small. Therefore, the pandemic did not slow the process of global warming. Scientific research dedicated to climate change shows that the global warming process has commenced a strong upward trend. In order to slow down the ever faster global warming process, it is necessary to reduce all or most of greenhouse gas emissions in the shortest time possible, including through the development of renewable energy sources. The global socio-economic crisis caused by the development of the COVID-19 pandemic should significantly change the pro-ecological awareness of people and the need to implement sustainable development in economic processes and everyday functioning of people. In the first half of November 2021, the UN Climate Summit COP26 Climate Conference was held in Glasgow, Scotland. To save the climate and biosphere of planet Earth, it is crucial what we will do in the decade of the 20s of the current twenty-first century. These issues were raised during the debates and discussions held during the abovementioned UN Climate Summit COP26. However, the declarations made by individual countries of the world regarding the calendar of achieving zero emissions indicate that the subject is not treated very seriously by governments in many countries. It is necessary to increase international cooperation in the implementation of global pro-environmental policy.