Seven environmental changes that the coronavirus will cause

Ineke Mules

1. Better air quality

The sudden decision to stop all industrial production has dramatically reduced levels of environmental pollution. Satellite images have revealed a clear drop in the figures for pollution by nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas that is emitted mainly by vehicles and factories. This pollutant is responsible for poor air quality in many cities.

2. CO2 emissions fall

Like NO2, carbon dioxide emissions have also been reduced in the wake of the crisis. When economic activity falls, so does CO2 pollution, something that had already happened during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. In China alone, emissions decreased 25 percent when the country went into total quarantine. It is a fact, however, that this change is only temporary.

3. A new world for wildlife

Since everyone is confined to their homes, some animals have used the occasion to investigate. As fewer vehicles ride, there is less chance that small hedgehogs will be run over upon waking from hibernation. Ducks surely don't have such a good time, and they wonder where the people who gave them bread in the park are.

4. Beware of trafficking in wild animals

Conservationists hope that the coronavirus crisis will help curb the illegal wildlife trade, responsible for bringing several species to the brink of extinction. SARS-CoV-2 surely arose in a market in Wuhan (China) where trafficked animals are sold both legally and illegally. An offensive against this trade may be a good consequence of this tragedy.

5. Clear waterways

Shortly after Italy was quarantined, images of the crystal clear waters of Venice went around the world. The usual muddy appearance of Venetian canals is produced by the movement of boats. Furthermore, with cruise ships docked, our oceans experience a decrease in noise pollution, lowering the stress suffered by various sea creatures.

6. Increase of plastic waste

But there is not only good news. One of the worst side effects of the crisis is the rapid increase in the use of disposable plastic, from medical equipment to disposable gloves to packaged food. Even coffee shops that are still open no longer accept reusable cups, in an attempt to slow down the virus.

7. No one remembers the climate crisis

With the coronavirus prevailing worldwide, the climate crisis has been  pushed aside. But this does not make it less urgent. Experts caution that important decisions should not be delayed, even if the 2020 COP has been postponed. Given the productive system, and although emissions have decreased, it is impossible for this effect to be long-term. So you have to act.