Can a pandemic stop or slow the Anthropocene?

Abstract

The entire Earth system consists of fully dynamic conditions. Humankind’s manifold large and small influences on the planet are now very well-documented.Changes are now so vast, their traces so significant, that we have come to term this as if it was genuinely a new Epoch in that history – as the Anthropocene.Recently, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how an ostensibly small event at a single locality can take just a few weeks or months to change the world, and in some real sense to stop it. The author in this article in particular seeks to inject a further dose of far-reaching reflection on our pandemic, its influence on life on Earth, and its possible future consequences. Ultimately, then, it seeks an answer for a key question – as to whether COVID-19 is really in a position to stop, or at least slow, the runaway Anthropocene.With a view to encouraging reflection on humankind’s potentially reduced impact on the planet the Author suggestspriority areas of study in the near future.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on foreign tourism in European countries

“…On the one hand, the index takes into consideration many important economic values. On the other hand, tourism is only one of its elements (Więckowski, 2020;Liu et al, 2021).…”

Areas Of Socio-Geographical Study Of The Covid-19 Pandemic In Russia And The World

“…The point, however, is not only the timeliness of these measures, but also the relative social homogeneity of Polish society compared to Italy or the UK, with their large migrant communities, less inclined to comply with restrictions. The most affected powiats were distributed at this stage across the territory in a mosaic manner -as well as at the global level, regardless of the population density (Krzysztofik, Kantor-Pietraga and Spórna 2020;Więckowski 2020).…”

“…Millions of trapped migrants have become one of the most vulnerable groups during the pandemic. The outbreak of the pandemic found more than 600 thousand EU citizens abroad, including 200 thousand in Germany and 160 thousand in France (Więckowski 2020). After the termination of regular flights, many countries, including Russia, have organized special flights to take their citizens home.…”

Sustainable transport for border areas in the European Union

“…Once pandemic status had been declared, most countries' governments seemed in doubt that closures of their own state borders represented the most effective protection against the spread of COVID-19. That went hand in hand with the restoration of border controls, the sealing of borders, or even their outright closure (Rosik et al, 2020;Więckowski, 2020). The lack of coordination of such activities, and the decisive return to unilateral decision-making were a source of significant chaos at state borders, if also of course beyond them.…”

“…The direct consequences of COVID-19, as well as the far wider associated crisis also point to the importance of transport in the sustainable development of border regions. Equally, the pandemic offered an opportunity for development to be 're-imagined' in terms of both its sustainability, and the social and ecological justice it remains capable of offering (Higgins-Desbiolles, 2020;Więckowski, 2020Więckowski, , 2021. 'In fact, every crisis in history has also represented an opportunity, at least a chance for reflection' (Więckowski, 2020, p. 485).…”