COVID-19: The climate response

As the world faces the unprecedented health crisis – COVID 19 pandemic – affecting the lives of millions of people, its impact on the environment, especially the atmosphere, reportedly shows positive changes.

Himalayan peaks        viral images

Space agencies like NASA’s released satellite maps and images have illustrated probable significant reductions in air pollution and improvements in air quality over different regions of the world. In some parts, lower nitrogen dioxide levels in the air have also been showed. In testimony, people have witnessed ‘like-never-before’ clear sky with ‘long-distanced’ seamless visibility – one like that of Himalayan range. This climatic change has much to do with the COVID-19 response. Scientists, researchers, experts attribute the climatic phenomena to COVID-19 pandemic responses like lockdowns, travel restrictions, industry shutdowns, people restricted to stay home.

China: Before/After                                               viral images

According to them, after the outbreak of the pandemic, carbon dioxide emissions are considerable low, unlike other regular busy days, due to the reduction in road transport. As a result of lockdowns and most people staying at their own homes, there has been a huge drop in road use in countries, resulting in a substantial reduction in the use of fossil fuel. Also, nitrogen dioxide release, mostly from burning fossil fuels for transportation and electricity generation, has reportedly been recorded to have reduced. Moreover, the closure of industries and aviation played its part in reducing carbon emissions.

Italy: Before/After                                               viral images

Now the bigger question is, how long will this change last and how sustainable is the positive effect? This climate change scenario is an indicator that changes in human activity bring about a change in the environment.

This pandemic has taught us not only to deal with a health emergency but also find better solutions. It’s a learning time for human’s future existence and finding new ways of sustainable life.

- Singh Rakesh Ranjan 

    Freelance Journalist