In a Global Pandemic, Environmental Science is More Relevant Than Ever
by Michael Coleman
At the time of writing this piece, at least 110 million people worldwide have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it is estimated that over 2 million people have died from it. Hope for a vaccine has blossomed as early doses slowly begin being distributed to the population. In most cases, the global chronology of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic does not immediately call to mind the issue of environmental science. Most publicized are the lockdowns, outbreaks, and political antics that have spawned as a result of an unprecedented virus. To be clear, the massive loss of human life and discussion surrounding the policies, choices, and information that either deterred or aided this virus will always be important. However, the environmental implications of this pandemic should not be overlooked, as their significance suggests that environmental science should still be at the forefront of our collective consciousness.
Environmental Lessons
In the early stages of this pandemic and even now, large swathes of the world went into lockdown to help slow the spread of the virus. People worldwide stayed indoors and stopped commuting as work and even social events shifted online. To look at one specific case, vehicle travel in many provinces in China was heavily restricted. As a result, these areas saw drastic reductions in vehicle-based pollution and air contaminants. (Chen, et al. 2020)
While the findings of this study might seem more on the logical and simple side, their implications are staggering. Given the enormity of our various environmental crises, it can be easy to be discouraged as an individual trying to make a larger environmental change. People can recycle, save energy, and make many other environmentally-conscious decisions, but the impact of these actions is variable (i.e. Recycling is Garbage) and hard to visualize. In China, community-based lifestyle changes (albeit brought about by government policy) led to clear, tangible changes in the environment on an extremely short timescale.
In another example, satellite imaging data of India during the onset of the pandemic found a subsequent improvement in air and water quality in surrounding areas, by a level detectable from space. (NASA, 2020) This study found a significant decrease in particulate matter in the air and less water contamination that likely resulted from the shuttering of many factories and industrial workspaces during lockdowns. This change did not go unnoticed by Indian residents, with the study remarking on an uptick in social media posts mentioning cleaner air and water.
Together, these studies provide evidence that through collective action our natural environment can make incredibly fast improvements showing that hope is all but lost when it comes to addressing our ample environmental crises from climate change to the 6th Mass Extinction, to disruptions of the Nitrogen and Phosphorus cycles to the hole in the ozone layer. . Environmentalist movements struggle to catalyze public action because of the enormity of these crises. As an individual (particularly one living in the global North in a developed country) it can be hard for me to see or encounter the effects of climate change, or conversely, to see the positive effects conservation work has on the environment. The pandemic has created a unique set of circumstances for people to see how our livelihoods could improve when action is taken against issues like pollution. In some cases, people can experience a defined “before” and “after” depending on pre and post-lockdown conditions.
Moving Forward
How can we as a society best utilize the precious information given to us out of a tragic pandemic? First and foremost, media coverage is essential in maximizing the impact of these studies. For decades, climate change deniers and opposers have argued against the idea that human mitigation acts can halt the “natural” changes happening to Earth. Although carbon dioxide levels have not shown large levels of reduction, pollution levels have. Overall, the pandemic has given us strong data that mitigation efforts can and will be effective.
Granted, a total social lockdown as we saw employed during the pandemic is an unreasonable and unsustainable method to combat any of our environmental crises. But it has reminded people what cleaner air looks and feels like, and has given us something tangible to aspire to. It has also created the precedent for reducing the pollutants and emissions of major industrial operations. Factories should not abruptly be shuttered or gasoline cars pulled from the streets, but regulations and efficiency standards must now begin to become the norm. We know now more than ever that this route will lead to a better quality of life for humanity as a whole.
Not everyone can experience a clear-cut difference like those mentioned in India. In some places that have struggled to contain the virus, like the US, restrictions still apply. But when these restrictions are eased, expect a surge in things like travel and tourism as people return to normalcy. This travel boom will undoubtedly lead to a surge in people traveling to green spaces like natural parks and reserves. In Thailand, a recovery in natural park ecosystem health led their Environmental Minister to institute regular 3-month hiatus periods in 2021. (Jamrisko, 2020) Here, people will once again be able to visualize how the environment has changed during a pandemic, and why. With any luck, experiencing a revitalized and restored version of natural spaces will convince more and more people that regenerative actions like these are both worthwhile and effective.
Across the world, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has brought about hardship, suffering, and loss for everyone, but time and time again, ordinary people have banded together to overcome adversity. Medical staff, retail workers, and everyday people have been shining examples of the good that can arise from tragedy. In my eyes, the way we as a society view the environment is one of several silver linings born from the pandemic.