In the pre-covid19 period, the world was acluster of grouchy noises, thronged places, polluted sky, dusty roads, etc. Weused to see vehicles running on roads emitting deleterious gases, trees werecut down to widen roads, immigration of birds, etc. Thanks to COVID-19 whichresulted in lockdown, the world witnessed a shift. The noises are superseded bychirrups of birds, dusty air by fresh wind, & polluted sky by blue sky. Asa cherry-on-top, with spring unfolding day by day, the lisps of migratorybirds, finding their mate & nest in the meadows takes the old bonnie earthout of books and shows us the primordial form of earth. While the gliding ofswans in canals of Venice takes us out of blahs, the sight of the Himalayanmountain range, which is now visible from more than 100 miles is exultingpeople.
The credit for reviving this image of earthgoes to air pollution reductions caused by the lockdown. While COVID-19 hascaused a global gloom. On the flip side, it has provided some respite bymitigating air pollution thereby improving the air quality. While extensivetravel restrictions are in place, and bustling malls, stores & theatershave been closed, people are caged in their four walls, practicing socialdistancing and working remotely. This lockdown strived at containing the spreadof COVID-19, and hopefully reducing the death toll, has produced somebeneficial consequences. The lockdown has brought a sudden drop in carbonemission and has had a stark effect on bringing down pollution levels.
According to the Pollution ControlBoard-formulated Air Quality Index (AQI), India, in the first week of lockdownwitnessed five-year low air pollution levels. Compared to 2019, the airpollution level during lockdown has indicated enormous improvement. Forinstance, Delhi, India’s most polluted city witnessed a 44% reduction in PM10air pollution levels on the first day of its restrictions, according to India’sCentral Pollution Control Board. Kolkata’s air & noise pollution levelswere diminished by 50-75 percent during the lockdown, West Bengal PollutionControl Board found.
At a world level, in China from where theepidemic started emissions fell by 25%, & coal by 40%. Satellite data fromthe United States National Aeronautics & Space Administration shows adecline of 36 % in nitrogen dioxide over China in the week after the Chinese NewYear. A mirror image of this story is also witnessed in Europe where satelliteimages show nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions fading away over northern Italy.Compared with last year, levels of pollution in New York have reduced by nearly50%, according to Columbia University scientists. A similar story is playingout in other parts of the world. Researchers like Glen Peters of the Center forInternational Climate & Environment Research in Oslo have noted thatoverall 2020 may still see a drop in global emissions of 0.3%.
Fostering Greener Earth
Alas! With positive cases and deaths surging, it is neither the time to exult on this nor we want air quality to improve this way. This global pandemic that is claiming lives, shouldn’t be seen as a ray of hope that will foster environmental reform. However, this ongoing episode could expedite us in identifying the key drivers of air pollution. Our environmentalist can inevitably seize the curfew window to understand background levels of air pollutants. And for others, it could be a chance to make a strong demand for clean air.
Moreover, it will be absurd to presume thatthis quality air will continue after lockdown. This clean air phase isshort-lived. When the pandemic will eventually subside, and lockdown is lifted,carbon & pollutant emissions will bounce back spontaneously. In fact,according to experts, environmental restrictions will be extricated to bounceback from the COVID-19 related economic losses. For instance, during the2008-2009 Great Recession, global carbon dioxide emissions went down by abouttwo percent from previous years. However, to compensate the economic losses,the industrial activities surged up, resulting in growing global emissions insubsequent years. A similar story is replicating in China which is emergingfrom the virus-caused shutdown where emissions are starting to tick back up.Moreover, the pandemic will also cause an increase in the amounts of medicaland hazardous waste generated, and weneed to wipe out that stuff also.
Therefore, only long-term systemic shiftswill alter the trajectory of CO2, and other harmful emission levels in theatmosphere. We must strive for better environmental impact by changing ourproduction and consumption habits towards cleaner and greener earth. This temporaryphase of clean air should provide a stimulus for more focused and strategicpolicy actions in the future.
Younis Ahmad Dar works at Greater Kashmir.