03.19.2020

Coronavirus uncertainty

CV vs CC There is much discussion about parallels with decision making under corona virus and climate change.  The climate change alarmists say that CV shows us how and why we need to act urgently on climate change. Au contraire.  The main similarity between CC and CV are that they are both situations of deep uncertainty. For CV, we are working from data from countries having the early outbreaks, plus epidemiological models. Extreme precaution is advised immediately to save lives.  Individual people feel the urgent, visceral need for extreme precaution (well not all them, viz. the riotous spring breakers in Florida).  The economic and social consequences of this extreme precaution is beginning to be realized; the key is flexibility in our responses so we can shift course as needed. I have written much on the topic of climate change and the precautionary principle.  Simply put, the precautionary principle is wrong trousers from the climate change problem.  Apart from the brainwashed Extinction Rebellion folk (assuming that they are doing this not because they are being paid to do it), no one feels the urgent visceral need to drop everything and ‘act’ on climate change.  The reason for that is that the potential adverse impacts of climate change have a long time horizon (decades to centuries),  there is no simple ‘action’ that will reverse climate change, premature actions could lock us into infrastructure that is not in our best long term interests.  And finally, diversion of all our resources to the climate change problem could make us more vulnerable to more urgent problems such as CV. This is not to say that we shouldn’t act on climate change; I have long argued for no regrets actions such as energy technology R&D, adaptation to extreme weather events, planning for 21st century infrastructures, and minimizing pollution of air, water and soils. However, inferring that the coronavirus policies will lead to comparably urgent climate change action is misguided, IMO. Post CV We will eventually get past this.  What are the long-term implications of our CV experiences?  Some of them arguably have implications for climate change.  But there are much broader implications for how we live and work, and also the social safety net. The rate of epidemiological and immunological research that is getting conducted and published is breathtaking; after all this settles, the old publication model with peer review and paywall will arguably be dead. The insanity of people travelling nonstop all over the world for conferences and meetings has been illuminated.  Apart from the CO2 emissions, this travelling is an insane loss of productivity and takes a toll on people’s health.  Even the IPCC is conducting its working group meetings via the internet. With regards to scientific conferences, these are being posted on the internet.  These days on the rare occasions i go to conferences, I don’t attend any talks (look at them later on the internet), but set up meetings with people (collaborators, old friends, clients and potential clients).  That is the hard part, but everyone staying home has more of an opportunity to reach out to people over the internet. Traveling and tourism will undoubtedly change. While I have never been on a big cruise trip, I can’t imagine getting on such a ship after all this.  I suspect that air travel won’t recover to its previous level. Restaurants will change dramatically, more a focus on pick up and delivery than on dining.  Apparently millennials are already in this mode, rarely going to restaurants but relying on food pick up or delivery. How we value employees at the lower end of the economic ladder will change, e.g. grocery store employees, truck drivers, health care workers, teachers, etc. The CV experience has been a real eye-opener for the U.S. in terms of its fragile safety net for vulnerable people (pretty much every one is vulnerable at one time or another).  Sick leave (and pay), health care are being reconsidered.  Much flux for both political parties in the U.S.; here’s to hoping that something sensible emerges. The perception of expertise is in flux.  As a result of climate change alarmism (both scientists and the media), scientific expertise took a hit in terms of political and public perceptions.  By contrast, the scientific experts on coronavirus are doing a superb job and politicians are taking them seriously.  What lessons the climate alarmed and dismissives will eventually learn from this remains to be seen. With regards to health care, we are seeing the rise of TeleHealth.  Also this experience is highlighting the deep problems with the U.S. FDA; apart from the COV testing regulations fiasco, the latest is that hydroxychlorquine is not approved for coronavirus treatment in the U.S.; approval would take 90 days. CO2 emissions are down, which is likely only temporary, but some of these post CV changes could have longterm impacts. Well, this should be enough to kick off the discussion.  Stay safe, everyone.   This article appeared on the Climate Etc. website at https://judithcurry.com/2020/03/19/coronavirus-uncertainty/#more-25852]]>

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