Community awareness is an effective means of achieving environmental sustainability post-COVID-19. The pandemic has shown the close connection between humanity and the planet. Community awareness empowers members to participate in sustainability efforts through education, engagement, and ownership of solutions. This involves raising awareness of issues like controlling deforestation to avoid disease transmission, encouraging sustainable consumption, and adopting sustainable practices. Sustainability ambassadors play a key role in driving community awareness efforts through leadership by example, community outreach, and self-development.

1. COMMUNITY AWARENESS AS A
PANACEA FOR FOSTERING
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
POST-COVID-19
Hadiza Hamma, (Ph.D.)
Faculty of Law, University of Abuja

2. Introduction
“We need to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the future”
– United Nations Secretary-General
 COVID-19 has shown that more than ever, humanity and the planet are inextricably connected and so
the health of one influences that of the other.
 Community awareness is an effective means of achieving Environmental Sustainability
Humanity
Planet
Environmental
Sustainability
Community
Awareness

3. Key Concepts
Sustainable Development
•1987 report of the World
Commission on Environment
and Development
•“Development that meets
the needs of the present
without compromising the
ability of future generations
to meet their own needs”.
•3 Pillars of Sustainable
Development
(Environmental, Economic,
Social)
Environmental Sustainability
• Protecting the environment
against degradation
• Ensuring that in meeting our
needs for water, food, shelter
as well as engaging in
activities that make our lives
enjoyable, we don’t cause
damage to our environment
or unduly deplete resources
Community Awareness
• Community is defined as a
group of people who inhabit
a common geographical area
and who share common
characteristics.
• Community could also mean
the condition of sharing or
having certain attitudes and
interests in common
• Community awareness
means being in the know;
consciousness or
responsiveness through
which community members
are empowered to own the
change they want to see

4. COVID-19 and Environmental
Sustainability
POSITIVES
Improved Air Quality
Reduced Noise
pollution
Sustainable
Alternatives
NEGATIVES
Increased Sanitary Waste
Contamination of common
spaces
Restrictions affecting
sustainability
Increased poverty

5. COVID-19 WASTE
Source: Saeida Saadat, et al. (2020)

6. Community Awareness for Environmental
Sustainability• Communities need to be empowered to understand their roles and responsibilities and how they can foster sustainability in
their environment.
• It therefore extends beyond mere knowledge to engagement and participation in sustainability efforts or initiatives.
• Several aspects of the SDGs draw attention to significance of community for sustainability, e.g.,:
 SDG 6b: “Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation
management”
 SDG 12.8: “ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable
development and lifestyles in harmony with nature”
• Agenda 21: creating competence in individuals who will then be able to tackle problems related to environment and
development. Through (1)reorientation of education towards sustainable development, (2) improving public awareness
and (3) providing training support
• SDG 4 calls for “education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles,…and appreciation of cultural diversity
and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development”
HOW?

7. Some Issues for Community Awareness Post
COVID-19
Awareness about consequences of human and animal interaction e.g., need to
recognise the link between wildlife markets and pandemics
Controlling deforestation to avoid animals moving into human settlements e.g.,
Habitat encroachment forces animals to move into human settlements and increases the
likelihood of new viruse infections.
Encouraging sustainable consumption e.g., replacing beef with plant-based
proteins such as beans
Engaging community and businesses to adopt sustainable practices, e.g., proper
waste disposal.
Community initiatives that improve not only the environment but also benefits
individuals e.g., by providing convenient walking routes
Community sustainability fund

8. Role of Sustainability
Ambassadors “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing
that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead (American anthropologist, 1901–1978)
• A healthy planet is key to the ability to rebound from the
current crisis, prevent future pandemics or at least be
prepared if they occur.
• Need for conscious efforts at all levels of society
• Sustainability ambassadors at the forefront
Community
Awareness
Sustainability
Ambassadors
Be the change (live
by example
Engaging schools,
public places, etc.
Community
gatherings
Self-development
(knowledge and skills)

10. References
‘What Is Environmental Sustainability and Why Is It Important’ (2017) Sustainable Friends
<http://www.sustainablefriends.com/what-is-environmental-sustainability-why-is-it-important/>
Amy Y. Vittor, et al ‘How deforestation helps deadly viruses jump from animals to humans’ (2020) The Conversation
<https://theconversation.com/how-deforestation-helps-deadly-viruses-jump-from-animals-to-humans-
139645?utm_medium=amptwitter&utm_source=twitter>
Bergstrom, D., Rose, K., Olinger, J., & Holley, K. ‘The Sustainable Communities Initiative: The Community
Engagement Guide for Sustainable Communities’ (2014) 22(2) Journal of Affordable Housing & Community
Development Law,191-211. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/24389776>
Corinne Le Quéré, Robert B. Jackson and Matthew Jones ‘Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during
the COVID-19 forced confinement’ (2020) 10(7) Nature Climate Change 1-7. DOI: <10.1038/s41558-020-0797-x>
D. Mebratu Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Historic and Conceptual Review, (New York, Elsevier
Science Inc.,1998), 501.
Damian Carrington ‘Pandemics result from destruction of nature, say UN and WHO’ The Guardian (2020)
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/pandemics-destruction-nature-un-who-legislation-trade-green-
recovery>
Dominique Hes ‘Impact of community engagement on sustainability outcomes’(2017) <https://cpb-ap-
se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.unimelb.edu.au/dist/b/232/files/2017/07/Next_Gen_Expert_series_D_Hes-1c4ud7u.pdf>

11. References Cont’d
Inger Andersen and Jimmy Smith ‘Human health, animal health and environmental health are inextricably
linked’(2020) Mail & Guardian <https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-07-12-human-health-animal-health-and-environmental-
health-are-inextricably-linked/>
M.C. Cordonier Segger, Ashfaq Khalfan and Salim Nakjavani, Weaving the Rules for Our Common Future: Principles,
Practices and Prospects for International Sustainable Development Law, (Canada, Center for International
Sustainable Development Law, 2002), 14.
Sorin Cheval, et al ‘Observed and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Environment’ (2020) 17 Int. J.
Environ. Res. Public Health, 4140
United Nations ‘Climate Change and COVID-19: UN urges nations to “recover better”’ (2020)
<https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/un-urges-countries-%E2%80%98build-back-
better%E2%80%99>
United Nations Economic and Social Council ‘Promoting sustainable development’
https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/content/promoting-sustainable-development
World Commission on Environment and Development, Our common future, (Oxford, Oxford University Press 1987).
Zakia Afrin, ‘Foreign Direct Investments and Sustainable Development in the Least-Developed Countries’(2004) 10,
Annual Survey of International and Comparative Law, 215