COVID-19 Shutdowns Haven’t Help the Environment As Much As You Think
COVID-19 has shifted the modern world on its axis, forcing global adaptation and change to all thinkable aspects of our normal routine. As heartbreaking losses and socioeconomic conflicts dominate the media, it becomes much less likely that looming environmental issues are discussed at the dinner table.
Humanity has always been interwoven with the environment. Even the COVID-19 virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is a virus that originates from animals and spreads to humans through our interaction with the natural world. Everyday industrial activities such as animal agriculture, wildlife trade, and deforestation cause humans to interact closely with animals and increases the risk of zoonotic disease spread.
It’s no surprise that a public health crisis borne from human interaction with animals would, in turn, affect the environment. But has that impact been a positive or negative one?
Image created by Fernando Cobelo. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives - help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Are There Any Environmental Benefits?
Viral social media posts spread a narrative that the Earth is “healing,” following shelter-in-place orders worldwide.
Animals have been filmed moving onto urban land and having undisturbed adventures.
The water in the Venice canals now appears crystal clear.
Air pollution and smog have been reduced significantly, namely in Europe and China.
Unfortunately, these momentous occasions are a result of a temporary lockdown, and as a result, are only temporary.
Compared to last year’s averages, daily global carbon emissions had lessened by 17% in April. More recent data shows that the daily reductions are considered minimal as many countries resume regular activity.
The root cause of environmental pollution is the overexploitation caused by humans, not necessarily the existence of humans themselves. It is unrealistic to expect humans to stay off the streets forever. The more prominent environmental benefits are those that have a potential long-lasting impact.
On an individual level, outdoor exploration has turned into a temporary escape from our homes. In the United States, local bike shops have seen a significant spike in revenue since lockdown measures were put into place. Activities such as gardening, hiking, and camping are also gaining traction. All of these can be converted to lifelong hobbies with a positive environmental impact.
The typical work life is being reevaluated as well. As thousands are being pushed into remote work, employers have started to consider working remotely permanently. With the average worker spending an hour commuting each day, this transition could dramatically lower emissions by the transportation sector, which accounts for 28% of total US greenhouse gas emissions.
These are potential positive outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic, but only if individuals and corporations take these as lessons learned. Despite these few worthwhile benefits, it is impossible to ignore the pressure of certain environmental issues worsened by the pandemic.
Frontline. Inspired by images of exhausted doctors and nurses. Image created by Kevin Kobsic. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives - help stop the spread of COVID-19.
A Hidden Public Health Issue In Medical Waste
The number one priority during a pandemic is helping people stay as safe as possible. Unfortunately, a septic medical environment requires disposable equipment to slow the spread of pathogens through reusable (possibly contaminated) items.
One undeniably negative aspect of the virus lies in the accumulation of medical and plastic waste. Like the coronavirus pandemic, waste has become an overwhelming issue in all parts of the globe.
Companies worldwide have taken the initiative to change their production line, focusing on making masks, gloves, test kits, and ventilators. All of these products must be packaged and transported globally through shipping planes, which only contributes further to the pandemic’s carbon footprint.
The epicenter of the disease in Wuhan, China, saw a sixfold increase in medical waste. During the highest number of cases, hospitals were producing 247 tons a day, which is equivalent to about half the weight of a blue whale. The upward trend of the increased waste following the pandemic is consistent across all countries due to the hazardous nature of medical waste.
In the medical setting, any equipment that has been in contact with disease-causing pathogens is considered contaminated and must be disposed of as medical waste. Even households with infected patients are grounds to be considered for containing medical waste, prompting waste management experts to investigate the need for extra precautions.
The surge in medical waste threatens to overflow current establishments, and already disposable masks and gloves can be found littered throughout the streets worldwide. Energy-intensive processes such as high heat incineration are necessary to chemically disinfect medical waste for disposal. In extreme cases of improper handling, medical waste is dumped into waterways and is considered a toxic substance.
An increase in medical waste is unavoidable as it guarantees the safety of our front line workers. That being said, an area in which the rest of the world can seek change is within municipal solid waste.
Army of paper and plastic coffee cups. Photo by Layne Harris
Plastics Strike Back Once Again
For cities that have been progressively pursuing zero waste policies, the COVID-19 health crisis has effectively halted these efforts.
This is seen in the temporary reversal of the single-use plastic bag ban in states like California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Maine.
Grocery stores have even begun pre-packaging their bakery and bulk goods.
Starbucks was one of the first coffee chains to offer discounts for those who brought reusable mugs. Such measures were reversed this March to ensure the safety of their employees.
As restaurants subsequently adopted similar precautions, a statistical survey in Singapore found that an extra 1,334 tons of plastic waste were generated through two months of take-out and delivery service alone.
Along with the ever-rising popularity of Amazon Prime shopping, all of these changes inevitably lead to an increase in plastic usage and waste. Of this increase, packaging claims 40% of the extra plastic compared to the 17% increase from the medical industry.
However, there is little reason for society to abandon their pursuit of reusables. The narrative that plastics and single-use items are safer is not scientifically justified. According to Greenpeace scientists and health experts, reusable items can be cleaned safely using household disinfectants, so why have we moved backward in our fight against plastics?
In the United States, the volume of household waste is projected to increase by 30% following quarantine orders. Waste management companies worry about how they will handle overflowing waste streams, especially knowing that recycling streams are often mismanaged and contaminated. In 2019, the United States had only recycled 10% of its plastics.
This product life cycle is inherently harmful, both to wildlife and humans. If plastics are not recycled, they are incinerated, releasing toxic pollutants into the air. They are flooding oceans and even third world countries, contaminating our water and land with chemicals that will ultimately harm human health.
While oil companies are utilizing this opportunity to make a profit, impoverished communities will suffer the long-term devastation of this seemingly indestructible and unavoidable waste.
Image by Ria Sopala
Negative Environmental Policy Implications
The accumulation of physical waste is one of the more apparent and visible issues. However, how governments have responded to the crisis has an impact as well. Several authoritarian bodies continue to push legislation against the environment, likely using the new media focus to their advantage.
For example, in Brazil, the actions of president Bolsonaro has sparked an outcry amongst many environmental activists. Despite the country now ranking second in the number of coronavirus cases worldwide, illegal deforestation continues to rise. The deliberate fires of the Amazon Rainforest reached a record high back in 2019, but the National Institute of Space Research found that deforestation rates in June have surpassed last year’s rates by 20%.
In the United States, the EPA announced a Temporary Enforcement Policy during March. This enforcement transparently allows companies to bypass compliance with federal environmental regulation due to the state of emergency. Though this policy change is set to be taken back on August 31, it will have allowed corporations five months in between to ignore environmental reporting of pollutants and emissions.
To make matters worse, the Trump administration has overturned more than fifty environmental regulations and is still rolling back more. Trump has also subsidized mining under the guise of small business aid, making his preference for fossil fuel companies apparent during an economic crisis.
As government policy continues to undermine environmentalist efforts, advocates for changes cannot be put on hold. Now more than ever, it is important to push for solutions that prioritize public and environmental health.
Image by stuart hampton
Climate Solutions Are Pandemic Solutions
While making policy decisions, the overarching goal should be to help the people.
It is crucial to consider that certain political actions may favor some populations over others. If a specific group of people is unfairly affected, government action should be taken to alleviate this disparity and strive for equity.
Scientists have observed that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minorities, people with lower income, and those with chronic diseases. Advocates for environmental justice recognize that these are the same communities heavily affected by toxic waste, water contamination, air pollution, and the rising impact of climate change.
It is possible to tackle pandemic and climate issues simultaneously. On a worldwide scale, countries are pursuing greener solutions to the economic crises in solidarity with the UN Global Compact (an international sustainability business initiative urging governments to actively create jobs in renewable energy, ensure clean air, and reduce overall vulnerability to crises.)
If international governments can enforce strict action in the face of a health crisis, then they are also capable of a similar response once environmental health issues dominate the media.
The end of a climate crisis - another public health crisis in itself - should proceed much like the elimination of a deadly virus like COVID-19. It can only advance if the population addresses it as an issue and subsequently seeks change.