Episode 5: IS COVID-19 GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT

With travellers grounded, as borders closed, businesses & factories shut down, there were reports that said nature was recovering while humanity stayed at home. This makes us question “Was Covid19 Good or Bad for the environment?”⁣

• The lockdowns imposed saw a decrease in harmful greenhouse gases such as CO2 & NO2, all over the world. ⁣

• Delhi & other major Indian cities saw a fall in average concentrations of fine particulates in the air by almost 80 % within the lockdown period.⁣

• Images of Rivers Yamuna & Ganga emerged, showing that the waters had cleared & fishes were swimming closer to surface. The water quality improved as most industries were shut down so pollutants & wastes were not being dumped into them.⁣

• From Thailand to South Africa to Italy, tourist-abandoned streets & beaches lured record number of wildlife creatures from turtles to penguins to deers. It seemed like wild animals were finally able to reclaim their land, all thanks to lockdown & Miss Coronaji.⁣😅🙏

And so it seemed like perhaps, maybe we had a chance in reversing climate change. ⁣🌿✨

But now, with the opening of borders & revitalizing of economy, pollution levels are shooting up to pre-Covid19 levels. 😱😰

Factories are pushing to make up for a lost time, medical waste is being generated in tonnes each day, online shopping has increased & so has plastic packaging waste.⁣

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Maybe it’s time for us to think & finally take action to save our planet. It’s high time we think about sustainable practices for a healthy world for us & for future generations to come. ⁣

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Instead of waiting on global leaders, let’s take matters into our hands this World Nature Conservation Day.

Do what you can do, for each step counts.