April 28, 2020

What will «present» covid-19 to world ecology?

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, air, rail and road traffic is restricted around the world, production is suspended, and people from offices have switched to remote operation. Widespread quarantine is the cause of a new, unplanned, green trend. Experts predict that as a result of reduced economic and industrial activity in 2020, for the first time since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, there will be a reduction in all global emissions and pollution.
Twelve years ago, the global recession and high oil prices resulted in a 50% reduction in air emissions. But in 2009, the industrial giants returned to their previous figures and exceeded the pre-crisis level of emissions by 5%.2.jpgChina is the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases. Measures taken by the country's authorities to contain the new type of coronavirus have led to a reduction in production in key industries from 15 to 40%. As a result, carbon emissions decreased by 25% in a month, according to a study published by CarbonBrief.
NASA satellite images show how much the concentration of nitrogen dioxide over China has decreased in one month.1.jpg

After the introduction of the emergency regime in new York city, urban traffic decreased by 35%, and therefore exhaust emissions for a few days decreased by about 50%, as well as emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, writes the BBC with reference to researchers at Columbia University.

It would seem that what is wrong? Nature is resting, but…

In 2020, the world will get an incredible result of unplanned environmental policy measures, but the upcoming economic crisis will distract attention, forces and planned financial investments in the fight against global warming, the threat to biological diversity and slow down the transition to "clean energy", about which the International energy Agency is already sounding the alarm.
A leading clean energy analyst at Bloomberg has raised concerns that demand for solar energy will decline as politicians and corporations focus on short-term economic incentives rather than long-term clean technologies. Rob Jackson, a Professor of Earth system science at Stanford, predicts that the financial crisis, in turn, will lead to the weakening or postponement of large and medium-sized businesses ' programs to reduce emissions to the ocean and air.3.jpgThe shock of the pandemic will also affect the success of many shared economy initiatives. Demand for colivings, car - and capsharing that have gained popularity will fall, and all the commandments of zero waste activists will be questioned:samples will be replaced with disposable reusable, and personal with public. According to the Director of the Bureau of environmental information, angelina Davydova, short-term ecobobservations as a result of the pandemic can turn into a negative experience — after its decline, consumption and associated emissions can again grow sharply.5.jpg"It is still too early to draw definite conclusions. In the short term, emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants have decreased, but the demand for disposable personal hygiene items has increased, and the amount of medical waste that is not recycled will be huge. The situation with the virus negates many of the forces spent on popularizing public transport. In other words, in many issues of environmental policy, we will go back to the past stages, and we will have to look for new solutions to problems that have already been solved. But do not despair — such a crisis is also a chance to rethink the economy as a whole, and it is possible that a number of reforms and decisions taken in the world after the problem with the pandemic is resolved or at least brought under control will also be "green" and environmentally sustainable."

So what is waiting for us after the quarantine is lifted?

The consequences of a long quarantine can be more dangerous than the coronavirus itself. From the mouth of every expert now sounds that the world will not be the same. Coronavirus, falling oil prices, reduced business activity-all this will lead to the fact that our lives will change significantly in a fairly short time, Novye Izvestia writes.4.jpg"Already at the next stages of isolation and stopping the life of the country, the deep people will begin to realize EN masse that the pandemic of poverty is much more dangerous than the epidemic of the Chinese virus. And then the issue of economy for the government will also come first, although it is now a priority when making decisions about the severity of quarantine measures and their duration...", writes the channel "Master of the pen".

Covid-19 will really change our world. Even now, it carries negative factors, among which society tries to cling to positive moments. Unfortunately, the opinions of experts do not sound comforting.in many countries, the peak of the epidemic has already passed, but not all over the world. 

We ask you to stay at home, take care of yourself and your loved ones, observe security measures, and most importantly – do not give in to panic.

Support the Foundation, publicity is the best way to save animals