Pandemics in History and Nudge for Nature

Pandemics in History

Pandemics in HistoryPandemics Pathogen Death toll 737 - 737- Japanese smallpox epidemic Variola major (virus) 1 million 1520-Onwards New World Smallpox Outbreak Variola major (virus) 56 million 1347 - 1351 Black Death Yersinia Pestsis (Bacteria) 200 million 1885 Third Plague Yersinia Pestsis (Bacteria) 12 million (China and India) 1918 - 1919 Spanish Flu H1N1 Virus 40 - 50 million 2002 - 2003 SARS Coronavirus 770 2015 Present MERS Coronavirus 850 1981-Present HIV⟋AIDS HIV (virus) 25 - 35 million 2014 - 2016 Ebola Ebola (Virus) 11,000 2019-Present COVID-19 Coronavirus 43,518 (April 01,2020)

Pandemics in History
PandemicsPathogenDeath toll
737 - 737- Japanese smallpox epidemicVariola major (virus)1 million
1520-Onwards New World Smallpox OutbreakVariola major (virus)56 million
1347 - 1351 Black DeathYersinia Pestsis (Bacteria)200 million
1885 Third PlagueYersinia Pestsis (Bacteria)12 million (China and India)
1918 - 1919 Spanish FluH1N1 Virus40 - 50 million
2002 - 2003 SARSCoronavirus770
2015 Present MERSCoronavirus850
1981-Present HIV⟋AIDSHIV (virus)25 - 35 million
2014 - 2016 EbolaEbola (Virus)11,000
2019-Present COVID-19Coronavirus43,518 (April 01,2020)

Nudge for Nature

  • A nudge is simply a promising new tool to encourage people to act in an environmentally benign way.
  • A nudge is simply an aspect of how behavioural science can be applied in the public policy constituency.
  • Biodiversity loss, soil erosion, rising temperature, pollution have become major threats to the environment.
  • Green nudges have been suggested as a promising new tool to encourage consumers to act in an environmentally benign way. This includes choosing renewable energy sources or saving energy, food choices or farming practices thereby affecting soil, water and the biodiversity.
  • US government sent letters to those who consumed a lot of electricity suggesting that their neighbours consumed less.
  • Types of nudges:
    • Provision of information
    • Changes in the physical environment
    • Warnings or reminders
    • Use of a green default option
    • Use of social norms and regular feedback
  • Nudges can go wrong:
    • Inconsistent with the interests or values of the people whom they affect.
    • Challenges for policymakers seeking to use nudges in reliable ways.
    • Monetary incentives coupled with peer comparisons may crowd out rather than co-benefit.
Nudging Pro-Environmental behaviour

Examrace Team at Aug 25, 2021