www.womanthismonth.com PEOPLE | interview Based on a study conducted by the Global Burden of Disease, in the GCC, ambient air pollution was responsible for 13,000 premature deaths in 2017. Our marine environment isn’t doing great either, issues ranging between the decline in fish stocks to an extent that in some areas the fish stock has collapsed threatening local food security and the destruction of various habitats such as seagrass beds and other coastal habitats mainly due to reclamation and dredging activities. Habitats such as seagrass beds and mangroves serve as nurseries for various fish and marine species so their destruction makes it very difficult for species to recover. Land use change and the expansion of urbanization has resulted in green and agricultural spaces to diminish especially in Bahrain where the green belt is now less than 1% of the country’s area. What are your thoughts on the current pandemic and its positive or negative effects on the environment? First off, I think the world isn’t acknowledging and is ignoring the fact that the main reason behind this pandemic is due to environmental destruction. This is caused by urbanization, rapid expansion of cities, industrialized agriculture and more have resulted in habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. World governments are addressing the symptoms of the coronavirus pandemic but not the root causes that are influenced by human activity, which has laid the foundation for previous, current, and future pandemics. There was a new report that has recently been published by the United Nations Environment Programme that discusses this and how we can break the chain of transmission through rebalancing the needs of the people and the environment so that we can thrive together and fulfill each other’s needs. The pandemic has not only taken many lives and shut down the planet for a few months but it has also severely impacted world economies with many people losing their jobs. The waste being created due to the pandemic especially the use of disposables has increased the pressure on the already catastrophic waste crisis. On a more positive note, the pandemic has contributed towards lower emissions from industries and transport giving the environment a breather, which has allowed biodiversity to flourish in many areas of the world. This in itself has really put things into perspective - we should not go back to normal, instead we should attempt to create a future where we put the environment in the centre of our life. The cost of preventing further pandemics over the next decade by protecting wildlife and forests is estimated to equate to just 2% of the estimated financial damage caused by Covid-19. The question is, will we listen or ignore the signs and science again? As a woman in science, what is your advice for young women hoping to pursue or make an impact in the field? The world and field is so big, there is definitely a place for you, the world needs you, your energy and all that you can do – so go do it! If you get rejected from something – remember it is merely a re-direction to where you need to be in life. So just ride that wave, life will surprise you in the best possible way! August 2020 7
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