I have a good friend who is a biologist and conservationist. A couple of years ago, I remember asking her about how humans will be affected by changes on our planet, such as increases in population, deforestation and our changing behaviours such as our endless travels around the world. She replied thoughtfully: “Of course, it is going to eventually have a detrimental effect on humans, but not much research has been carried out on that yet.”

I remember feeling dissatisfied with her answer but actually she was right, and now of course I have my answer as many of these factors have contributed to the speed at which this global pandemic has spread.

Environmental scientists, academics and zoologists are deepening their collaborative research on how climate change is influencing human society and the planetary web of life. It is becoming more apparent that animals are losing their habitat due to human destruction of forests and so bringing us all into closer contact. We are told that the transmission of infections from animals to humans may get worse and as a result of this there is the possibility of more pandemics unless we change our behaviour.

According to Dr Williamson of the UEA school of environmental sciences, the most important change brought about by this pandemic could be to public attitudes. He quotes four fundamental changes, namely “the way we think; awareness that society is fragile; realisation that values are more important than costs and recognition that events in one part of the world affect us all”.

I get the feeling that we’ll never go back to ‘normal’ again, or at least to the way we remember it. There will need to be a reassessment of how we do things. This pandemic is clearly a wake-up call and we cannot afford to go back to our old ways. It’s going to transform our attitudes on deeper levels and hopefully heal our human relationship with the natural world.

Although scientists will be leading the way, even they have admitted that a more holistic view is required and that indigenous knowledge that is being lost can guide us, before it is too late. When it comes to living on this planet, we could take a leaf out of the Native Americans’ or Maori’s books educating us on the fact that we are merely guests and custodians here and simply do not own the place. In the words of American biologist Rachel Carson: “We must change our philosophy, abandon our attitude of human superiority.”

It’s astounding to see how the earth has started cleansing itself as a result of the global lock-down and cessation of industrial activity.

Recent satellite images have shown dramatic reductions in the concentration of various air pollutants due to lower vehicle and air traffic. Clear blue city skies have replaced the smog. The seas are clearing. There has been a re-emergence of unlikely wildlife in urban areas such as deer roaming the streets of London, dolphins swimming near cruise ports, sightings of swans in canals, seabirds returning to busy waterways. Residents in Venice are marvelling at how clear the waters have become, with plenty of little fishes swimming around beneath the gondolas. My daughter shows me a funny photo online of wild boars bolting around the streets of Southern Italy!

So, I ask myself how can I help? Apart from eating less meat and using eco-brand products, during this lock down I’ll have some time to read some books on the subject, do some online searches on aspects of ecology that capture my interest, then join a local environmental group. I like the idea of joining Greenpeace. Who knows? By the time I am a pensioner, I may very well have turned into a radical environmentalist. Laying prostrate on the runway at Heathrow and getting dragged away by police! How wonderful it would feel to exercise one’s civil liberties with such abandon!

As a mother, I hope over the years, I have instilled some humility, respect and wonderment in my child towards the environment and our place within it. I think I’ve not done too badly; she has been known to join me in hugging a tree and lecturing me about sustainability in fashion.

I end the day with a hot bath. The orange and jasmine essential oils diffuse in the air. I dim the lights and light a small candle. I lie back, close my eyes, relax my mind and take a few deep breaths, reflecting on this past month of lockdown. We are indeed living in the strangest of times and, as Greta Thunberg said: “We are now standing at a crossroads in history. We are failing but we have not yet failed. We can still fix this.”

  • Marisa Laycock moved to St Albans in 2000. She enjoys sharing her experiences of living in the city. These columns are also available as podcasts from 92.6FM Radio Verulam at www.radioverulam.com/smallcitylife .