COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our daily lives. From stay at home orders to business and school closings, what we define as “normal” has changed. One of those changes is the pandemic’s effects on the environment.
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You may have heard stories in the news about clear waters in the canals of Venice and a drop in air pollution. While these are as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns, knowing the full effects can be difficult. Here is what we know:
There Have Been Lower Emission Levels Across The World
Due to stay-at-home orders in place across the country and world, emission levels have dropped across the world. For example, between early February and mid-March, China saw an estimated 18% drop in carbon emissions due to quarantine measures and lack of demand for coal. To put that into perspective, that is around 250 million metric tons of carbon pollution, or more than half of UK annual carbon emissions.
We Don’t Know The Full Impact Of COVID-19 On The Environment
As of yet, we don’t know the full impact of COVID-19 on the environment and most likely won’t for years. This is especially true considering that the EPA removed regulations on polluters for the indefinite future. It is important to note that there are many challenges to tracking environmental changes and global emissions during COVID-19 due to:
- The timing of data availability
- Attribution of changes due to COVID-19
- Uncertainty over the duration of the pandemic and quarantine measures
We Can All Do Our Part To Keep Ourselves & The Environment Healthy
So what can we do now and in the future? We can do our part to keep ourselves and the environment healthy. For example, planting trees is a great way to not only beautify your property but reduce your energy bills and provide shade. They are also a great way to help fight pollution and urban heat islands in cities to keep us cooler and breathing easier.
As we say, “the right tree in the right place”. You wouldn’t plant an oversized tree in a small area. ISA certified arborists from Hansen’s Tree Service will come to your home to help you find the best tree for your location and needs.