Share this article
1. Improve air quality
Reduction in criteria pollutants
The World Health Organization declared that more than 80% of individuals living in cities are exposed to dangerous air pollution, which has been associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 problems and mortality. (WHO 2020; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 2020).
According to the Centre of Research and Clean Air; COVID19 Pandemic caused a reduction in air pollution due to the lockdown, quarantine, and travel ban, resulting in a 25% reduction of carbon emissions in China in the first month of lockdowns. (Lauri 2020; Jeff 2020).
China witnessed a reduction of 200 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide in the first month of the lockdown, due to the reduction in air traffic and coal consumption this reduction may have saved at least 77,000 lives. (Jeff,2020).
Moreover, according to the European Space Agency, there was a decline in nitrous oxide emissions from cars, power plants, and factories in the region of northern Italy. (Matthew,2020).
There was also an improvement in air quality recorded in China over two months in 2020, which saved the lives of 4,000 children under five years old and 73,000 adults over 70 years old (G-Feed, 2020). A 10 % reduction in the pollutant nitrogen dioxide per week over the four to five weeks before March 17. (AMS,2020).
According to G-Feed (2020), the average NO2 levels went down by 40% from one week to the next, in Portugal, and Lisbon, compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 51%.
The lockdown improved the air quality in a way that some areas in North India such as Jandhar and Himalayas became visible again for the first time in a decade. (Rob 2020; Vanessa, 2020). The improvement in air quality was clear in Spain due to stay-at-home orders of almost 75 % less.
The nitrogen dioxide gases were monitored by NASA and the ESA, by using an Ozon Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to analyze and observe the Ozon layer and pollutants such as NO2, aerosols, and others. This instrument helped NASA to process and interpret the data coming in due to the lockdowns worldwide.
NASA reported a significant drop in nitrogen dioxide during the initial Chinese phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic slowdown from the virus drastically dropped pollution levels, especially in cities like Wuhan, China by 25-40%. the drop in NO2 pollution began in Wuhan, China, and slowly spread to the rest of the world ( Ruixiong et al. 2020; NASA Aura OMI 2020 )
According to Zhang, Ruixiong; Zhang, Yuzhong; Lin, Haipeng; Feng, Xu; Fu, Tzung-May; Wang, and Yuhang (2020); scientists from China and U.S, it was estimated that nitrogen oxides (NOx=NO+NO2) emissions decreased by 50% in East China from 23 January (Wuhan lockdown) to 9 February 2020 in comparison to the period from 1 to 22 January 2020.
The complete guide to capital availability in the energy sector and how it affects emerging markets
Emissions then increased by 26% from 10 February (back-to-work day) to 12 March 2020, indicating possible increasing socioeconomic activities after most provinces allowed businesses to open. ( Ruixiong et al.,2020)
Moreover, traffic congestion in major cities fell dramatically as a result, with a 47% drop in New York, and a 51 % drop in Los Angeles. Less traffic means fewer pollutants like carbon monoxide.
Air travel has also taken a major hit, airplane emissions of carbon dioxide reached over 900 million tons in 2018 and are projected to triple by 2050, according to the (UNAB, 2019). In the U.S., domestic air traffic fell by about 40 percent, according to (NPR, 2020). This led to cut greenhouse gas emissions from air travel.
In conclusion, the shutdown of industrial facilities, and power plants, and decreased transportation and shipping resulted in decreased levels of criteria pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO2), methane (CH4), sulfur oxide (SO2), black carbon (BC) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) (Srivastava et al. 2020; Gautam 2020; He et al. 2020; Saadat et al. 2020; Zambrano-Monserrate et al. 2020; Tobías et al. 2020).
Decreased GHG emissions
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil demand has dropped 435,000 barrels globally in the first three months of 2020, compared to the same period of last year (IEA,2020).
Henriques M. in his article” Will Covid-19 have a lasting impact on the environment?” presented on BBC news, mentioned “. As industries, transportation, and companies have closed down, it has brought a sudden drop in greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Compared with this time of last year, levels of air pollution in Ney York have reduced by nearly 50% because of measures taken to control the virus.
It is assumed that vehicles and aviation are key contributors of emissions and contribute almost 72% and 11% of the transport sector’s GHGs emission respectively” (Henriques, 2020).
According to IEA 2020, less consumption of fossil fuels lessens the GHG emission, which helps to combat global climate change.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil demand has dropped 435,000 barrels globally in the first three months of 2020, compared to the same period of last year.
CREA 2020; Ghosh 2020, reported that coal-based power generation was reduced by 26% in India with a 19% reduction in total power generation after the lockdown.
Again, China, the highest coal consumer in the world, dropped 36% compared to the same time of the preceding year (early February to mid-March).
According to UK-based climate science and policy website Carbon Brief, the recent crisis of COVID-19 reduces 25% of CO2 emissions in China, and nonetheless below the normal limit more than two months after the country entered lockdown.
They also projected that the pandemic could cut 1,600 metric tons of CO2, equivalent to above 4% of the global total in 2019. (Rum & Islam,2020)
Decreased sound pollution
Noise pollution is the third most hazardous pollution after air and water pollution by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2009). It is reported that globally around 360 million people are prone to hearing loss due to noise pollution (Sims, 2020).
Long-term exposure to noise pollution has several adverse effects on humans, ranging from psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression, hypertension, hormonal dysfunction, and blood pressure rise leading to cardiovascular disease.
One of the major sources of noise pollution is road traffic and the WHO reports that around 40 % of Europe’s population are currently exposed to high noise sound levels (Basu B et al., 2021)
According to Zambrano-Monserrate et al. 2020; Muhammad et al. 2020, the lockdown due to COVID-19, and the reduction in commercial activities and public transportation, noise pollution was also reduced as mobility was curbed by approximately 90%.
In India, noise pollution was reduced drastically by around 40–50% in the recent lockdown period (Somani et al., 2020). Moreover, the reduction of vehicle movement during the lockdown period, reduces the noise levels of Govindpuri metro station (Delhi), from 100 dB to 50–60 dB (Gandhiok and Ibra, 2020).
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB, 2020) of India, the noise level in the residential area of Delhi is reduced from 55 dB (daytime) and 45 dB (night) to 40 dB (daytime) and 30 dB (night) respectively. ( Rume & Islam,2020).
In Germany passenger air travel has been slashed by over 90%, car traffic has dropped by more than 50% and trains are running 25% fewer than the usual rates (Sims, 2020).
Basu B et al., (2021) in their published Paper titled « Investigating changes in noise pollution due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The case of Dublin, Ireland; investigates sound levels in Dublin, Ireland before and after the lockdown imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, using measured hourly data from 12 noise monitoring stations between January and May 2020.
They found out that all monitoring stations had recorded sound levels greater than the threshold for more than 60 % of the time.
During lockdown, the number and the percentage of times the sound exceeded the threshold reduced considerably for each monitoring station. At only 3 stations (Ballymun Library, ID #2; Chancery Park, ID #4; Dolphin’s Barn, ID #6) hourly average equivalent sound exceeded the threshold for more than 60 % of the time.
A significant reduction in hourly average equivalent sound and hourly minimum sound levels was observed at all stations during the lockdown period and this can be attributed to reductions in both road and air traffic movements. (Basu B et al., 2021).
Basu B et al., (2021) found that reductions in sound and noise could provide important public health benefits, recommends the utility of having a permanent city-wide sound monitoring network, and suggested that the installation of similar networks across cities around the world would assist with sound monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of noise pollution mitigation strategies
To conclude, the COVID-19 lockdown, travel restrictions, and the reduction of economic activities have drastically reduced the level of noise pollution around the globe.
2. Improve water quality
Water pollution addresses a serious threat to public health, by causing a wide range of infectious diseases, associated with low levels of hygiene and sanitation.
According to CNN, 2020, water in the canals cleared and experienced greater water flow in Venice, shortly after quarantine began in March and April 2020.
The increase in water clarity was due to the settling of sediment that is disturbed by boat traffic and mentioned the decrease in air pollution along the waterways. (Anagha,2020).
During the lockdown period, the major industrial sources of pollution have shrunk or completely stopped, which helped to reduce the pollution load (Yunus et al., 2020).
Due to the lockdown of COVID-19, the Grand Canal of Italy turned clear, and reappearances of many aquatic species (Clifford, 2020). Water pollution are also reduced in the beach areas of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, and Indonesia (Kundu, 2020; Rahman, 2020). Jribi et al. (2020) reported that, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the amount of food waste is reduced in Tunisia, which ultimately reduces soil and water pollution.
Cooper 2020 from the Institute of Development Studies in Brighton, UK, reported in his paper – Water Security beyond Covid-19, the amount of industrial water consumption is also reduced, especially from the textile sector around the glove.
Construction and factories generate a huge number of solid trash which are responsible for water and soil pollution, this was also reduced during the lockdown.
Moreover, the reduction of export-import business and the movement of merchant ships and other vessels are also reduced globally, leading to the reduction of emissions as well as marine pollution. (Rume & Islam, 2020).
A Conceptual framework of cOVID-19 environmental short term
Strategies to consider
The review finds that there were some positive impacts of the pandemic, however, those impacts are short-term induced by the lockdown.
For instance, leaders have clearly declared that the immediate shift to a work-from-home strategy was really successful, and could be adopted as a policy, which would save the company money on rent and utilities and certainly reduce our negative environmental impact.
We need to be aware of the long-term impacts of Covid19 pandemic on the environment and think about effective strategies to mitigate all the negative impacts imposed by the pandemic. Here are some proposed strategies:
The strategies should be addressed for a long-term sustainable environment, we need to protect our globe, our homes, the human beings. Here are some effective strategies generated from the paper review regarding the proposed actionable strategies to consider:
Shifting to renewable energy sources
Pan, 2016 suggests shifting to less energy-intensive industries, use of cleaner fuels and technologies, and strong energy-efficient policies. Ellabban et al., 2014 in their published paper “Renewable energy resources: current status, future prospects, and their enabling technology”, highlighted the importance of using renewable energy to lower the demand for fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, which can play an important role in reducing the GHGs.
They found that the use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal heat, and biomass can meet the energy demand and reduces GHG emission.
This was also supported by (Rume & Islaam, 2020), who suggest changing the behavior in daily life and optimizing the consumption of resources, like avoiding processed food, and making compost from food waste reduction, which will help reduce the carbon footprint and global carbon emission.
Use of green and public transport
Ankit et al. 2020 suggest encouraging people to use public transport, rather than private vehicles. Besides, people should encourage to use bicycles short distances, and a public bike sharing (PBS) system (like China) should be available for mass usage, which is not only environmentally friendly but also beneficial for health.
Wastewater treatment and reuse
(Rume & Islaam, 2020) found that wastewater should be properly treated before discharge. Besides, the reuse of treated wastewater in non-production processes like toilet flushing and road cleaning can reduce the burden of excess water withdrawal.
Ankit et al.,2020 suggest developing safety guidelines and ensuring their implementation for doctors, sanitary workers, and hospital staff so as to keep them healthy and to also avoid any viral spread.
Focusing on recycling
Rahman et al., 2020 pointed out the importance of implementing extensive awareness campaigns through different mass media, regarding proper waste segregation, handling, and disposal methods.
Ankit et al.,2020 suggest framing policy guidelines and implementing them at international and national levels for proper management of plastic and chemical waste and wastewater treatment.
Global cooperation
We can conclude that environmental sustainability needs intensive global collaboration and efforts, which cooperate to outline policies and effective coordination among leaders, that could help in sustaining the implementation. (Rume & Islam ,2020).
Also read: Cooking up a Storm
