While humans have been stuck in quarantine, something else has been thriving. In the absence of traffic jams, industry and gatherings of people, all over the world nature is showing that it’s coping well with the global pandemic. It’s encouraging to see stories of the environment bouncing back in the midst of not-so-happy news.
Let’s get into air pollution first. In the last couple of decades, major cities worldwide have increasingly dealt with the worst of the world’s air pollution. Breathing the air in Delhi, India for one day has been compared to smoking 25 cigarettes. And in some cities, the air quality has been so poor at times that schools and businesses have had to close to protect citizens. Urban air pollution is a major factor in the premature deaths of millions of people globally, with particulate matter often leading people to develop respiratory diseases and cancers. However, with the coronavirus shutdown, pollution levels have dropped significantly and for the first time in years, people are seeing clear skies. A few weeks ago, Los Angeles, known for its terrible smog, was reported to have the cleanest air among all big cities, with air quality levels said to be the best they’ve had since 1995.
Some waterways have also seen significant benefits from the decrease in pollution. The Venice canals have been the cleanest they have been in without the clogging of tourism and transportation. Residents have reported that fish have begun to return to the waters and satellite images have shown the dramatic difference in the waters today compared to pictures from last year.
What’s really interesting are the reports of wild animals roaming vacant city streets. Instead of humans, mountain goats are now strolling down the streets of a Welsh town. Coyotes have been spotted in and around San Francisco. A recent picture from South Africa’s Kruger National Park shows lions lounging on a once tourist-filled road, now empty due to the park’s closure. The lockdown offers wildlife an opportunity to be free to roam wherever they want to without the fear of human interaction.
In response to the coronavirus crisis, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would suspend enforcement of environmental laws. With the current situation and economy in mind, initially, it makes sense as many sectors are shut down. However, industries have begun to push for further restrictions and regulations on their production to be relaxed as well. With no defined end date to this temporary policy and a federal government that is often partial to big industries, it’s concerning to think what implications this may have on the environment down the road.
This whole pandemic thing has made society slow down immensely. My previously crammed schedule always had me on the go and always thinking about the next thing. The absence of normality has allowed me to focus more on my own little bubble of the world. I’ve been able to go for peaceful walks and bike rides and sit and enjoy the nature that’s in my backyard. Birds are still chirping outside and the sun still shines, and despite craziness in the human world, nature is still in full bloom and enjoying springtime.
It’s unfortunate that it takes a global pandemic and immense losses to our society for us to realize how resilient nature can be. But it’s important for people to remember what the environment can be with less human involvement. I hope that when eventually this whole situation passes, we make changes in our lifestyles that help to promote a world with cities with clean air and water and one that allows us to coexist better with our fellow species.