The Good and Bad (and Ugly) Effects of the Pandemic to the Environment
The coronavirus outbreak brought changes and adverse impacts throughout the planet. Employments and businesses, economy, education, tourism, and also the environment were affected. The pandemic brought positive and negative effects to the environment, some were short-lived.
The Good
There is a reduction in human travel and journeys, as a result, fewer people are hurting or killing wildlife in roadways. In a study, roadkill rates reduced by more than 40% on the first few weeks of pandemic restrictions in 11 countries that includes Spain, Israel, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. Another thing, fewer ships are traveling through world’s ocean and waterways. Experts predicted the 4.1% increase in global maritime year in 2021. Flights also reduced because of pandemic, decreasing the risks of bird strikes. Also, pandemic benefited the wildlife by disrupting the hidden supply chains and other human activities that disturb the fauna.
In one study, it was found daily global carbon dioxide level fell by 17% during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another research showed the 20-40% decline pollutant nitric oxide across US, China, and Western Europe. Also, in different study from September 2020, experts claimed that the pandemic improved the air quality, reduced green house gas emissions, development in the ozone. Some positives effect of the pandemic is decline in air pollution and green house effect.
A study found that pollution levels fell by almost 16% in India’s longest lake during lockdown. And in a different study, it was determined that the amount of trash leaking into the sea of Kenya because of lockdown- related beach closures and restrictions in travel. The pandemic causes travel restrictions and limited commercial activity that improves water quality and health of bodies of water and reduced water pollution.
In general, pollution was reduced. Because of imposed travel restrictions and lockdowns, usage of vehicles declined which lessen air, and also noise pollution. The pollution in land also decrease as there were fewer people outside.
The Bad
One of the key negative outcomes of the pandemic is the plummeting amount of medical waste. In fact, the medical waste and haphazard use in healthcare institutions increased from 10-20 times. It’s a threat public health and environment.
The medical waste is not the only thing increased, but also the domestic waste. Because of quarantine and social distancing in the pandemic results to the 15-25% increase in household waste. Also, restrictions led to increase of domestic waste as people prefer online shopping and home delivery.
Due to the lack of source of income and reduced people including authorities during pandemic, the exploiters, poachers, illegal loggers, illegal wildlife in market became busier. According in satellite images, the deforestation surged in several hotspot places. Another, there’s rise in illegal fishing in the Philippines and Brazil. Some experts were worried that there would be an increase in natural resource exploitation in low income countries due to economic hardships brought by pandemic.
The Ugly
The COVID-19 pandemic caused negative and positive effects in the country. The ugly thing is the positive effects of the pandemic were only short term. Everything will be back as it used to be, or worse. And the negative impacts it brought will the environment for so long to recover.
People were getting sick during the pandemic, but our planet was already sick ever since. Our planet need a rest to heal.
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Another school essay dump. We still have classes so I am unable write. #DeansListCutie
