The United Nations conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) noted that As the number of coronavirus
infections grew exponentially in Europe and North America in March, restrictive
public health measures to stave off a worsening pandemic were put in place.
They included stay-at-home
orders, which were first issued in Italy and then in rapid succession in most
other countries around the world. With entire populations ordered to
stay home, schools, offices and factories limited their activities, road
traffic dwindled to a minimum and airlines reduced scheduled
flights by 60% to 95%.
The followings are the
immediate effects on the environment:
Slashed greenhouse emissions
While consumption and
employment levels dropped precipitously, they have also been associated with
significant reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As a
result, air quality levels in the world’s major cities improved dramatically in
March and April. Air quality improved largely because of a
reduction in factory and road traffic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and related ozone (O3) formation, and particulate matter
(PM).
During the same period, global air traffic dropped by 60%. Taken
together, these emissions reductions have led to a temporary dip in CO2
emissions from their pre-crisis levels, encouraging some to hope that our
global society may indeed be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
substantially over the long term to mitigate impending climate change.
Obviously, there are many challenges ahead.
Not all positive
But not all the environmental
consequences of the crisis have been positive. Volumes of unrecyclable waste
have risen; severe cuts in agricultural and fishery export levels have led to
the generation of large quantities of organic waste; maintenance and monitoring
of natural ecosystems have been temporarily halted; and tourism activity to
natural areas has ceased.
Local waste problems have emerged as many
municipalities have suspended their recycling activities over fears of virus
propagation in recycling centres. Food retailers have resumed using plastic
bags at checkout points citing health concerns over consumers’ reuse of paper
bags. In addition, due to stay-at-home policies, many consumers have increased
their consumption of take-away food delivered with single-use packaging.
All these developments have
created acute challenges for the waste management industry at a time when they
are operating with limited capacity due to the coronavirus crisis.
Ecosystems at risk
Natural ecosystems and protected species are at risk during the
coronavirus crisis. In many countries, environmental protection workers at
national parks and land and marine conservation zones are required to stay at
home in lockdown, leaving these areas unmonitored. Their absence has resulted
in a rise of illegal deforestation, fishing and wildlife
hunting.
Many of the environmental
challenges caused by the coronavirus crisis will gradually resolve on their own
once the crisis comes to an end and previous levels of economic activity
resume. Unfortunately, it is also true that the benefits of air pollution
reductions will also be erased. Overall, the crisis may thus have no permanent
environmental effects.
However, what we have learned
about the environmental benefits and risks of sharp drops in global economic
activity will certainly help us to better understand the mechanics of
environmental sustainability, societal consumption patterns, and how we can
reduce environmental degradation in a future crisis-free world.
Need for action
Attention must be given to
threats on the environment and natural resource bases as a result of the
coronavirus pandemic and consequential social and economic impacts.
While helping all vested
parties to adapt to crisis market conditions and take actions for recovery is
seen as a top priority by many authorities, governments should empower the environmentalists
and scientists together to work out plans and schedules to protect the environment.
