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A Cure For Climate Change

By Kassie Peloso

COVID-19 has revealed many ways in which the world is in need of improvement. As seen through observing similar pandemics from the past, it is possible to achieve long term benefits by uncovering flaws from an event of this nature. However, the solutions are not as simple as identifying flaws, but rather amending them with stronger policies and active participation across the globe. A great deal of solutions require the encouragement of the international communities including governments, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations like NATO or the UN. From the ruins of the coronavirus, people have started to rebuild. Rebuild relationships, approaches to energy consumption, global cooperation, and even animal protection rights. There is no denying the toll coronavirus has had on many lives, but as countries begin to reopen, we cannot lose sight of our role in preserving and capitalizing on the positive strides started by the pandemic. 

Among these strides are the positive environmental outcomes caused by national lockdowns. Across the globe, stay-at-home orders created an opportunity for NASA to study air quality. As a result, air traffic pollution and greenhouse gases have declined, temporarily easing some concerns of global warming but not ending the climate crisis. With restricted air and vehicle travel, carbon emissions have declined 72% in Paris, 30% in the northeastern United States, 10% in New York, and a total of 3% globally according to BBC News (5). “By some estimates, cleaner air during the crisis has avoided 11,000 deaths in Europe. [Additionally], greenhouse gas emissions are projected to fall by 5.5% globally this year, a consequence of the confinement of 3 billion people at home,” as stated by María Mendiluce and Jose Siri of The World Economic Forum (6). Moreover, humans aren’t the only ones benefiting from the reduction in pollution. Animals have reclaimed lost or new habitats. Thailand’s endangered sea turtles have seen their largest spawn in over 20 years, new species of birds are migrating in Lebanon, and elephants mobilized across formerly uncharted streets in Southern India (2). Thus, the confinement of billions of people worldwide has led to a dramatic improvement in air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat reclamation for animals of all species.  

Though the data is reassuring, as countries begin to reopen, the world could face an even worse rebound effect in which emissions can increase for a prolonged period of time if the environment is not nurtured properly. Finding a way to sustain cleaner air by investing in electric transportation or encouraging companies and employers to continue remote work is an effort that is necessary for advancing the global warming cause. When considering where energy originates, the primary source can be renewable or non-renewable. Through coal mills, nuclear fission, and the utilization of the world’s natural elements, energy is produced. It is via large transmission and distribution lines that energy is delivered to its destination. Converting to cleaner energy, though more expensive upfront, is more localized and does not deplete natural resources or contribute to environmental risks such as those mentioned above (3). This type of energy can even be capitalized on in smaller cities or suburbs, areas where there are predicted to be positive trends of movement. Less centralized environments are considered more compatible for today’s priorities of cleaning and social distancing, making it more desirable to move. Overall, COVID-19 has highlighted the areas we must focus on in order to both create and sustain a healthy environment for all. In the words of George Santayana, “This is, or should be, a clarifying moment: we can neither ignore the science nor look aside. We have a responsibility to build back healthier, and in doing so for tomorrow, we do it for perpetuity” (6).

 

  1. Chang, Ailsa. “Forecasting The Long-Term Effects Of The Coronavirus On American Society.” NPR, NPR, 27 Mar. 2020.
  2. CBS, et al. “Animals Reclaim Lost Habitat as Humans Stay Inside.” WCAX3, 20 Apr. 2020.
  3. “Electricity 101.” How Is Electricity Made? | Just Energy, 2020.
  4. Goldbaum, Elizabeth. “NASA Probes Environment, COVID-19 Impacts, Possible Links.” NASA, NASA, 29 Apr. 2020.
  5. McGrath, Matt. “Climate Change and Coronavirus: Five Charts about the Biggest Carbon Crash.” BBC News, BBC, 6 May 2020.
  6. Mendiluce, María and Jose Siri. “The COVID Recovery Must Go Hand-in-Hand with the Climate.” World Economic Forum, 9 June 2020.
  7. Wakeman , Jessica. “Will COVID-19 Affect How – And Where – We Live?” Livability, Livability – Journal Communications, Inc , 11 June 2020.
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25 Comments

  1. Although COVID has helped us be able to identify so many ways we need to improve not only our country, but the world, it has also been just a huge distraction from something like climate change and how detrimental it could end up becoming if it doesn’t get dealt with and soon. It’s so interesting how due to the quarantine and lockdowns throughout the world, we’ve seen such changes in the atmosphere, but I agree that it is very frightening that something like a rebound when the lockdowns lift as you had mentioned is possible. Things need to start being done to prepare and continue the fight to help with climate change.

  2. Climate Change is not a good thing. The coronavirus has caused less carbon dioxide to go in the air since personal transportation has dropped dramatically with stay at home orders. If there is a vaccine for the coronavirus that is good but that will lead to more fossil fuels being released into the environment as economies re-open. People, even if the coronavirus ends, have to watch how many fossil fuels they put in the air. There will be millions of survivors of Coronavirus, however, it will take years to determine if increased air pollution after economies re-open (assuming there is a vaccine) will actually result in an increased death count in those future years.

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