It was a crisp autumn morning when the news broke – a new strain of the coronavirus had been detected in a small village in China. Within weeks, the virus had spread rapidly across the globe, bringing countries to their knees and sending economies crashing.
As the world grappled with this unprecedented crisis, leaders scrambled to find ways to contain the virus and minimize its impact on their citizens. Some countries opted for strict lockdowns, bringing entire populations to a standstill, while others implemented more targeted measures and relied on the cooperation of their citizens to slow the spread.
As the weeks turned into months, the virus continued to wreak havoc on the world’s economies, education systems, and healthcare services. But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there were also glimpses of hope and optimism in the news.
In some countries, vaccines were developed and distributed at a remarkable speed, offering a glimmer of hope for a way out of the pandemic. And as schools and businesses adapted to new ways of operating, many emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before.
But the pandemic was just one of many challenges facing the world in 2020. As wildfires raged across the western US, Australia, and the Amazon rainforest, climate change was thrust back into the spotlight.
In the midst of these crises, politicians around the world found themselves facing increasing scrutiny and criticism. Calls for greater transparency, accountability, and action on issues like racial inequality, poverty, and education grew louder and more urgent.
Whether you decide to focus on sustainability in design, or you focus on being vegan to reduce greenhouse gasses from animal farms, there are lots of ways to be conscious today about the environment.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the past year, it has also been a time of reflection and reevaluation for many. As we look towards the future, it is clear that the world has changed in profound and irreversible ways. But with determination, resilience, and a commitment to working together, we can emerge from these crises stronger and more united than ever before.
