Environment and energy sovereignty; why energy should be clean
The way energy is managed has a great impact on the outcome of the COVID-19 crisis much more than one would think. It plays a big role in the ability to combat diseases and prevent their spread. Having clean and affordable energy is extremely valuable not only for helping the environment, but also for peoples health and receiving adequate treatment for illnesses.
These ideas are similar to an article I read on ScienceDirect called “The energy crises revealed by COVID: Intersections of Indigeneity, inequity, and health”. The group of researchers who wrote this article are all scholars studying energy transitions in rural and Tribal Nations from Michigan. In their essay, the authors argue that the pandemic has highlighted issues surrounding the energy crisis and the ability of communities to make informed decisions around energy choices. The authors write, “Energy sovereignty is a critical component in the design of a post-COVID-19 energy system that is capable of being resilient to future shocks without exacerbating injustices that are killing the most vulnerable among us” (Brosemer et al., 2020). In other words, the authors of the article are saying that the most vulnerable of energy consumers, being poor or indigenous communities, are struggling even worse now that they are also affected by COVID as well. “Energy sovereignty” refers to the ability for these communities to exercise the right to make their own choices about energy and the extent of their access to clean and reliable energy sources. However, because of previous events in these communities history’s such as colonization, they do not have the means to maintain more modern and clean energy sources. Due to the environmental injustices that they face, these unfortunate communities can not adequately deal with the outbreak and treatment for those who were affected by the virus.
Another idea in this article that the authors were arguing is the environmental impact of energy sources and how they relate to COVID. Their argument was that marginalized communities with low income are effected much more by environmental impacts such as air pollution from burning fossil fuels. Furthermore, they explain that in these areas, COVID is especially devastating the population with higher infection and death rates. In their article, the authors write, “Burning fossil fuel results in contaminated land, water, and food systems as well as negative health impacts embodied in vulnerable populations through increased rates of heart and lung diseases and asthma, all risk factors for detrimental outcomes in the current COVID-19 crisis” (Brosemer et al., 2020). In other words, all of the negative health impacts caused by unclean energy sources affecting these poorer communities are risk factors for contracting and spreading the virus as well as an increased risk of dying from the health complications caused by COVID-19.
The need for clean and affordable energy is not only necessary when dealing with the effect we have on the environment but also for maintaining health within a community. If lower income communities, such as the Tribal Nations mentioned in the article, are not allowed to exercise energy sovereignty and make clean and affordable energy choices, then they will continue to be devastated by the pandemic, especially those with health problems caused by pollution.
Brosemer, K. (2020, October). The energy crises revealed by COVID: Intersections of Indigeneity, inequity, and health. Retrieved March 11, 2021, from https://www-sciencedirect-com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/science/article/pii/S221462962030236X?via=ihub
