COVID-19: Its environmental impact and what we can learn from a global pandemic
The novel Coronavirus has radically changed how the world functions since its emergence in late 2019. Schools, restaurants, shops and places of worship have shut their doors to protect the lives of their patrons, students, and congregants. Daily life as we know it has come to a halt, but outside of our everyday lives and conveniences, nature is having the chance to heal.
The increase in carbon emissions has deservingly gained a lot of press attention in recent years. Life on Earth has shown its volatility in response to changes in temperature, no matter how small. From the extinction of the dinosaurs to the collapse of Mayan civilization, cultures have always had their roots tied to a shift in global temperatures. Since the 1850’s, global temperatures have risen by approximately one degree Celsius, and even at that seemingly miniscule rate, life is being affected across the planet. At this rate, one in three plant and animal species could go extinct within the next 50 years.
Along with the death and sickness that it has brought, COVID-19 has drastically slowed greenhouse gas emissions that have a radical impact on our planet. According to the BBC, forecasted CO2 emissions for 2020 show the largest reduction ever recorded. Between two and three billion tons of carbon will not be emitted this year, which is a reduction of four to eight percent from previous years. The effects of the 2008 financial crisis, oil shocks of the 1970s, and the Great Depression pale in comparison. . Why such a large drop? Travel, industrial production, and electricity use has decreased.
Air quality in general has improved drastically over the past few months. According to Science Daily, there was a decrease in particulate matter pollution of 35% during the lockdown in Northern China where the virus originated. In the United States, UCLA professors recorded a 20% increase in air quality in southern California. Reduction of air pollutants not only clears out ugly smog, but it also reduces the diseases associated with pollution. Respiratory diseases like lung cancer and emphysema are directly linked to the kinds of pollutants that are being cut out amid the lockdown.
The Coronavirus is also changing animal behavior. According to Scientific American, animals have changed their hunting and foraging behavior in the absence of humans. Animals that had shifted to nocturnal schedules to avoid humans have since begun to emerge in the daytime. Stories across the world of animals strolling the once busy streets are becoming more common each day. Areas that were once unavailable in animals’ search for food and water have become increasingly accessible in the wake of decreased human interaction.
Even though disease and death are ravaging our population, the worst situations can often carry the most valuable lessons. We have learned that we can positively impact our environment by taking steps to reduce pollution. We can improve our health and the health of our ecosystems. Although the Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to slow down, it has also shown us that there are positive effects on our planet associated with a positive change in human behavior. We really do influence this planet and that is an enormous responsibility. Covid-19 has given us valuable time to reflect on our past and prepare for the future. Whether that future is for better or worse is up to us.
