Going Green

By ZHANG LI

THE ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is， directly or indirectly， reshaping peoples consumption behavior. People used to take their convenient lifestyle built on high carbon emissions for granted. However， the pandemic has caused much reflection and the realization that many products used in the past are not essential. Problems that impact our planet are closely entwined with peoples lives， something that is unescapable.

Against such a backdrop， Friends of Nature， a Chinese non-governmental organization advocating environmental protection， launched a survey targeting parents， college students， and the working population on April 22， the annual globally celebrated Earth Day. The survey focused on changes of personal behavior brought about by COVID-19 and its impact on attitude toward a low-carbon lifestyle.

The one-month survey gathered opinions of more than 11， 000 people. It showed that the pandemic had changed peoples focus in life， and that physical health has become the most vital part of a happy life. More than half of the respondents said they were willing to support environmental protection and climate safety by developing low-carbon consumption habits. The survey also found there are difficulties in translating ideas of environmental preservation to effective actions.

Changing Lifestyle

The rippling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has gone beyond the sphere of public health.

But what changes has the pandemic brought to individual life？ And will people continue the newly formed low-carbon lifestyle as countries across the globe roll out economic stimulus packages？

To answer these questions， Friends of Nature， with the support of the Energy Foundation， conducted the recent survey.

The survey polled parents of children aged under 15， college students， and company employees as they represent the main consumers in the following 20 years. Its findings confirmed that peoples lifestyles have changed during the pandemic.

More than 70 percent of the respondents said they began to cook at home as a result of the pandemic. This change led to a healthier lifestyle along with less food wastage and plastic pollution. Close to 40 percent of those polled said they brought their own containers when buying takeaway food.

An increasing number of company employees and college students now choose to walk or cycle，according to the survey. More than 90 percent of the respondents said they shop less frequently amid the pandemic， and 63.1 percent said the reduction of frequency in spending made them realize that some products were non-essential and that it felt good to reduce wastage of daily supplies.

The focus of peoples attention also changed. In the survey， 76.6 percent of respondents said they now place more attention on health and medical care， and 53.9 percent said they had become more concerned about the environment and wildlife， all of which may mean more support will be given to environmental protection. More than 90 percent of the polled believed environment and climate are closely associated with a happy life.

During the pandemic， various new trends have been emerging. More people chose to work from home， have turned to contactless services， and reduced their frequency of going out. Although many are still adapting to the changes， the survey results prove the feasibility of a low-carbon society. Behind the data is a sketch of an ideal life people strive for in a post-pandemic era， combining the pursuit of an indivudal for a happy life and the health and sustainability of the entire planet.

Taking Action

The COVID-19 pandemic made more than 98 percent of survey respondents realize the “invisible”challenges in their lives. The top three are extreme weather caused by climate change， public health threats including infectious diseases， and environment pollution. More than 70 percent of those polled expressed concerns over the consequences of natural resource shortages and the economic fallout of the pandemic.

At the same time， more than 60 percent agreed that natural resources on the planet are limited， and the idea that people should not damage the environment for their own benefit won the support of 79.5 percent of respondents. The findings showed that more people regard the ecosystem， rather than humanity， as the center of life. It is this awareness that lay the foundation for sustaining environmental wellbeing and climate safety.

The survey also revealed that the public lack knowledge of environmental issues. For example， close to 50 percent of company employees surveyed did not know the relation between the environment and the increase in energy and food consumption. The public are also divided on the influence of climate change on the environment. The survey indicated the urgency of popularizing basic knowledge of carbon emission reduction.

The major contributing factor preventing respondents from consuming in a low-carbon manner is that they find it difficult to tell which are low-carbon products and what low-carbon consumption means， and many say that low-carbon products are too expensive.

The pandemic has proven the feasability of a slowpaced life. The positive feedback given by the vast majority of the respondents shows that people are capable of practicing a lifestyle that can find a balance between humankind and the planet. Choosing a low-carbon lifestyle can make a difference， and such a change calls for the joint efforts of society as a whole.