COVID-19 has disrupted our lives in ways we could not have imagined. The pandemic blurred political borders and exposed how interconnected the different socio-political systems and global economy are. On the other hand, while the global economic engine, industries and cities slowed down, people saw the return of a habitable environment in cities that were previously clotted with congestion, dust, pollution, and noise. Almost overnight, streets became safer to walk and cycle and the air felt cleaner. Many even reported hearing bird songs in their morning windows while residents in Mumbai shared that they could see the stars from their city for the first time ever. Kathmandu residents saw better glimpses of the Himalayas while asthma patients in Dhaka reported they have stopped taking their daily medicine. We can surmise that many lives were saved as a result of the cleaner air and fewer traffic accidents.

Globally, cities, leaders, and communities that were better prepared to transform their streets towards a better medium of transport took this opportunity to take the leap towards sustainable urban mobility. Popup cycle lanes appeared in European cities, Latin America, and some parts of Asia. Cars were restricted on many streets, inviting families and businesses onto the streets, recognizing the true nature of streets as networks of public spaces meant equally for social-cultural activities as much as for economic purposes.

Many city residents don’t want to go return to business-as-usual and plan to transform their city streets and mobility considering COVID-19 as a turning point. With public transport unable to function as usual, cities have invested more in pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Work from home and distance education has become the norm, minimising the need to travel daily through congestion.

Science too has called for a drastic transformation in our ways of living to meet global warming mitigation targets that call for a massive reduction in fossil fuel use in the next 12 years. Our trajectory and political commitments show that we would not meet the target without a serious transition. Suddenly, drastic measures for carbon mitigation goals that climate science has long called for were visible and experienced by all around the world.

For Nepal, local mobilisation proved to be its strength. Cities and communities that had strong social bonds not only responded well for their own safety, but also mobilised to support the needy. Self-organised groups and institutions took the lead to offer fresh food and free accommodation for those who needed it. The cycling community was among the many that responded with offers of services.

Politically, federalisation appeared to be a timely transition we have headed towards to prepare ourselves for a more resilient future that can withstand and recover from similar crises. After months of efforts in education, the federal government handed over the decision-making responsibility to local governments to make independent decisions.

COVID-19 also exposed the limits of our present mindset. As many tried to return home from foreign countries, we as a nation realised the limits of our abilities to respond on a national scale. The threat in built in an economy dependent on remittance was also brought to the harsh light of reality.

COVID-19 has sent a loud and clear message that the well-being of society, economy, and the environment go hand-in-hand. The pandemic has taught us that if the environment is not viable, then any system and plan of operation will fail. In education, it showed us the possibility of distance learning and other, unexplored methods of learning through available technologies. It also made us realise how much of our daily travel was avoidable. With odd-even regulations on motorised vehicles, bicycle usage has grown on the relatively safer streets of Kathmandu.

Municipalities in Nepal have yet to take into account this positive behavioral change and introduce relevant policy interventions. However, commitments from policy makers, along with the interest and enthusiasm of leaders at all local, provincial and federal levels, indicate a promising future.

Nepal is still transitioning to a federal governance structure. COVID-19 sounded an alarm. We need to ensure that we document the lessons learned to influence the path we take forward. COVID-19 has helped us realise that we are all in this together and what happens to one of us will have consequences for others. We are in this together and collaboration is the only way forward. This is the time to prepare to transition our economy and political systems. Climate action and transformation to a sustainable civilisation is the call of the hour. We need to see COVID-19 as nature’s warning signs.

Shail Shrestha is associated with the Digo Bikas Institute.