Helen Dotchel

Professor Freeman

English 110

2 May 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic and The Environment

Recently, Pope Francis said that the coronavirus pandemic is “nature’s response” to humans ignoring the ecological crisis (Gallagher). I grew up Catholic, but would not consider myself devout in any way. However, this suggestion struck me. Thinking about it, I realized all the ways this could be true. There have been reports that on March 27th pollution in New York had decreased by nearly 50% because of measures put in place to control the pandemic (Henriques). The amount of days with “good quality air” was increased by 11.4% compared to the same time in the previous year in 337 cities throughout China (Henriques). Organizations such as NASA have been looking for links between air pollution and decreased air traffic during the pandemic (Goldbaum). Could it be that this is something humanity should take as a sign of how we could and should stop the ecological crisis?

The Pope is also quoted as saying “We did not respond to the partial catastrophes. Who now speaks of the fires in Australia, or remembers that 18 months ago a boat could cross the North Pole because the glaciers had all melted (Gallagher)?” Act of God, sign from nature, or coincidence, no one can say for certain. But, certainly, we should learn from our mistakes, from the scientific research, and take care of the planet we live on. The Pope made a good point. Our planet is going through rapid climate change. This is supported by global temperature rise, ocean acidification, ocean temperature rise, glacial retreat, and shrinking ice sheets (NASA). And yet people continue to forget about it. Now is the time to think about climate change, pollution, mass extinction, and, generally, the impact we have on Earth.

Whether or not we take this as a call to act, however, is up to humanity. Greenhouse gas emissions are down and air quality is up. This is an opportune time to act and we must not take it lightly. Inger Anderson, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, said “Visible, positive impacts are but temporary, because they come on the back of tragic economic slowdown and human distress.” He argues that the pandemic will cause more medical and hazardous waste and that this is not a model of environmental response. 

Anderson is right, but an article published by the United Nations about his statements also states “Any positive environmental impact in the wake of this abhorrent pandemic, must… be in changing our production and consumption habits towards cleaner and greener (United Nations).”  If we look around us, and take advantage of the opportunity given to us through this disaster, we can start the groundwork for large-scale change in the way we conduct our societies in a cleaner and more sustainable way. 

The article later continues, “So, in the aftermath of the crisis, when economic stimulus packages… are designed, there is a real opportunity to meet that demand with green packages of renewable energy investments, smart buildings, green and public transport etc (United Nations).” This opportunity could dramatically change the way we treat our planet, we just have to take it. 

Climate activist Greta Thunberg once told the MPs of the House of Parliament that they do not listen to science because they are only interested in solutions that would enable them to carry on like before. In this uncertain time, where we fully expect a new normal in the aftermath of this pandemic, now is the time to listen to science. Now is the time to demand change. Now is the time to stop thinking only of ourselves in the present. Now is the time to sacrifice and start a new sustainable world where we dare to care about it. 

Works Cited

N.A. “Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?” NASA, NASA, 30 Dec. 2019, climate.nasa.gov/evidence/.

N. A. “First Person: COVID-19 Is Not a Silver Lining for the Climate, Says UN Environment Chief | UN News.” United Nations, United Nations, 5 Apr. 2020, news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061082.

Gallagher, Delia. “Pope Says Coronavirus Pandemic Could Be Nature’s Response to Climate Crisis.” CNN, Cable News Network, 9 Apr. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/europe/pope-francis-coronavirus-nature-response-intl/index.htm

Goldbaum, Elizabeth. “NASA Probes Environment, COVID-19 Impacts, Possible Links.” NASA, NASA, 29 Apr. 2020, http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-probes-environment-covid-19-impacts-possible-links.

Henriques, Martha. “Will Covid-19 Have a Lasting Impact on the Environment?” BBC Future, BBC, 27 Mar. 2020, www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-covid-19-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-environment.

Thunberg, Greta. “’You Did Not Act in Time’: Greta Thunberg’s Full Speech to MPs.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 Apr. 2019, http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/23/greta-thunberg-full-speech-to-mps-you-did-not-act-in-time.