Why is this time special?

This time is a new decade. This moment is the first time we have ever faced a threat to the human race on a global level. Science and technology are well developed and provide us with many comforts. We, generally speaking, have an abundance of food and a medical system that provides appropriate care. However, with such a disruption to the status quo, it seems like now is a time ripe for change. This situation sounds like a prime opportunity to uproot ways that have become ingrained but might not be optimal. This period is a time of turbulence and a chance to establish a new normal that is, in the end, better for us and society overall.