How Coronavirus and Climate Change are Linked

For many of us, it feels as though the coronavirus has come out of left field, drastically altering life as we know it. In one fell swoop, COVID-19 launched an unprecedented public health pandemic, compromised our civil liberties and served to isolate us from our friends, family, and peers. Our lives, once dominated by community events, socialization and full schedules of daily activities and obligations, have come to a grinding halt.

But it is apparent that interesting things can happen when humans are essentially confined to their homes. We have already begun to see the ways in which air quality is improving thanks to the absence of everyday traffic. For example, the city of Indianapolis reported a 38% reduction in air pollution several weeks after a lockdown was put in place.  In China, where the pandemic originated, environmental effects of the lockdowns were apparent as early as February of this year and from as far away as space, NASA recorded images of pollution over China clearing. CNN reported that according to China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the average number of "good quality air days" increased 21.5% in February compared to the same period last year. Historically, pollution levels in China clear up negligibly around the Luna New Year due to the celebrations, but for obvious reasons, this year’s change was unprecedented.

The New York Times notes that the fact that one of the most polluted countries in the world can see such significant change gives hope to many that the pandemic could be the catalyst that finally impels the world to stop climate change. The world’s population may have gradually become used to less consumption thanks to quarantine and then be wary of returning to old habits once restrictions are lifted. Some think that there is a chance that these changes in personal consumption and travel habits could spread and positively contribute to climate action, while others think that as soon as Corona passes, the efforts to rekindle economic growth will deprioritize decarbonization and even accelerate climate change.

In Time magazine, global climate activist Christian Figueres contests the claims that short-term environmental benefits that have been a positive side effect of the coronavirus pandemic will soon be erased.  Yes, there are fears that the devastating impact of the new coronavirus pandemic will destroy the momentum that the climate movement has built up over the last year and impair climate action, but Figueres believes that Coronavirus has taught the world crucial lessons that have ushered in a new era of radical, collaborative action to cut emissions and slow climate change. With interest rates at an all-time low, political and financial leaders now have an unprecedented historical opportunity to accelerate the energy transition and put the globe on a safe path toward a 50% reduction of emissions by 2030. Many policy makers around the world are in fact adhering to sustainability targets.

Breathing Deeply in Spite of COVID

In many cities around the globe, there are reports that air pollution has decreased due to reduced traffic as a result of widespread social distancing. Thus, global citizens can breathe in healthier air, at least for as long as social isolation mandates remain in place. Of course, the situation isn’t without irony: coronavirus adversely affects your respiratory system, and shortness of breath is a key symptom.

Experts do worry that the cleaner air we’re breathing right now is likely to disappear almost as quickly as it has appeared. Previous economic dips have precipitated lower greenhouse emissions, which then rise again once economies improve. The alternative transportation market is also taking a hit during this time as supply chains are drying up and manufacturers are shutting down. These issues are affecting numerous industries, and clean energy analyst Bloomberg NEF has cut its predictions for the 2020 global solar market by 16%.

Not surprisingly, evidence suggests that COVID-19 itself was spawned by climate change. The inherent wastefulness of humanity has resulted in rising global temperatures, a greater frequency of extreme weather events, and additional conditions that spurred the development of the virus and have allowed for it to replicate rapidly. And although the viability of respiratory viruses is thought to be reduced in warmer weather conditions, we cannot be certain that coronavirus will fit into that paradigm.

COVID-19 presents numerous challenges, especially since it doesn’t play by the rules. It remains to be seen whether an extended reduction in emissions, for instance, will weaken the viability of the virus. If that’s the case, we may become better equipped to treat the respiratory effects of COVID-19. Respiratory diseases are traditionally treated with prescription medications administered via an inhaler, including Breo for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

Renewed Demand for Single-Use Products

Improved air pollution notwithstanding, it’s not all good news where coronavirus and the environment are concerned. Excessive waste is piling up as more and more people discard reusable bags, refillable coffee mugs and other items that might have come in direct contact with other humans. During a pandemic, one can never be too careful when it comes to personal protection, but should public safety come at the expense of the environment? And will social distancing because of coronavirus be enough to alter the trajectory of climate change?

Thanks to coronavirus, disposable packaging has come to represent improved sanitation rather than excessive waste. Many people would gladly toss out their reusable bags, for example, if that would reduce the risk of infection. Coffee shops across the U.S. have banned the use of personal or refillable cups in favor of their single-use counterparts, to the detriment of the environment.

We have already seen a significant increase in waste production, and single-use items and packaging are just the beginning. Food waste numbers have skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Times reports that about 3.7 million gallons of unwanted milk are dumped every day now that large-scale institutions such as schools are closed down.

Cultivating Widespread Sustainability Post-Coronavirus

It’s clear that environmental matters are being deprioritized when public health is at stake. In fact, numerous policymakers have determined that there’s no need to monitor climate change when most of the world is in self-isolation. Instead, all eyes are on the healthcare industry, many expressing criticism for the rate at which the virus has spread across the world.

Some of the earliest known coronavirus cases were identified in Chinese patients in January. By the following month, the virus had already surfaced in numerous international locations. Experts believe that, had quarantine mandates been put in place sooner, we could perhaps have stopped coronavirus in its tracks. As it stands, however, we must now live with the environmental, social and economic repercussions of a global pandemic.

Final Thoughts

Disasters require us to think outside the box, and perhaps to change our way of life. COVID-19 has caused us to retreat to our homes and avoid the social interactions we once took for granted. All this time at home has led to clearer skies and reduced emissions, but we also need to be aware of the environmental negatives of social isolation, such as increased waste production.  The bigger question remains – how can we prolong the positive impacts that came with Coronavirus and apply the lessons we have learned to avoid restoring the negative environmental conditions that we suffered from before the pandemic?  How can we prevent climate change from being resumed and maybe even accelerated as soon as we stop sheltering at home and adopt whatever will be the “new normal’?

Sure, during the pandemic lots of people have paid attention to the signals we were sent by Mother Nature reminding us that the impact of “progress’ and “civilization” on our planet isn’t always positive – but how quickly and easily may they be forgotten when people are so busy getting back to their old routines…so, will we learn our lessons from COVID-19? Or will things just go back to the way they were before, or worse…and then what will be in store for us? Let’s hope that for the sake of the environment we have learned enough lessons to keep our skies clear and to stop the temperature from rising above 1.5⁰C… before it is too late.  Let’s hope that the shock of this pandemic forces the world to no longer ignore climate change and empowers us with a growing sense of urgency, of solidarity, of stubborn optimism and empowerment to take action. An understanding that our ability to return to a future “normal” after this pandemic depends on our adoption of decisive action to stop climate change,

GenCell thanks guest blogger Franke Wallace for contributing this post.  Frankie is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics that interest her like sustainability, and she can typically be found in her garden.