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Nearly two billion people, or one-quarter of the world’s population, are under stay-at-home or lockdown orders due to the Coronavirus as of April 2020^[1]. A majority of flights have been suspended as domestic and international travel has been restricted by governments across the globe. Citizens have been ordered to work from home, and any non-essential businesses have been forced to pause their activities. The drastic measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have demonstrated the clear impact human activity has on the environment. In fact, it is predicted that the coronavirus pandemic will lead to the largest drop in the world’s carbon dioxide emissions in over 70 years ^[2]. For climate experts, 2020 has been labeled as an essential year to take aggressive action in order to slow the spread of climate change ^[3]. It is important then to consider the impact coronavirus has had on the environment during this crucial time for climate change.

Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Pollution

As of 2017, 17% of the European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions resulted from the transport sector ^[4]. In European cities, road transportation accounts for nearly 30% of particulate emissions ^[5]. One of the largest impacts of the coronavirus measures has been a sharp decline in transportation following stay-at-home orders and lockdowns.

European cities where the virus has hit especially hard, warranting stricter lockdown measures, have seen a dramatic reduction of air pollution. This drop is associated with a decrease in nitrogen dioxide, which is the gas emitted by cars, trucks, power plants, and some industrial plants ^[6]. Italy, one of the hardest hit countries and first to implement a nationwide lockdown, has experienced extraordinary drops in its nitrogen dioxide levels. In Milan, in the four 4 weeks preceding March 25th, the average NO₂concentration was 24% lower than the 4 weeks preceding those. In the week of March 16th to March 22nd, NO₂ concentration was 21% lower than the corresponding week a year earlier. In Rome, NO₂ concentration per week averages 26-35% lower than corresponding weeks in the previous year ^[7].

Italy is not the only country showing signs of improving air quality. In Spain, Barcelona’s average NO₂ levels were 55% less than those of the corresponding weeks in 2019 ^[7]. In Madrid, these reductions were 41% compared to the prior year’s weeks ^[7]. In Portugal, Lisbon’s NO₂ levels were down 51% from the same week the year earlier ^[7]. Belgium, Germany, and France have also experienced similar significant drops in NO₂levels ^[6].

Nitrogen dioxide levels across France in March 2019 compared to March 14-15, 2020 ^[3].

Nitrogen dioxide levels across Italy in March 2019 compared to March 14-15, 2020^[8].

Effects After the Crisis Subsides

While the effects of the coronavirus measures have had noticeable consequences for the environment, most environmentalists are in agreement that these changes will have no lasting impact, claiming the “pandemic’s climate silver lining is vanishingly thin” ^[2]. However, it is speculated that the measures implemented to fight Covid-19 may instead impact the fight against climate change in regards to policy. If climate change continues at the current rate it will have far worse repercussions for humanity than those caused resulting from the coronavirus, therefore society should be taking equally dramatic steps to combat climate change as well. The aggressive measures that need to be made such as heavy investments in clean energy, green architecture, and switching to electric cars would not be nearly as disruptive as the measures implemented by Covid-19 have had on everyday life ^[9]. Former energy advisor Shane Shelton points out that “the gross amount of money spent, and the disruption to the economy, is far less when you invest in prevention than in managed chaos and recovery” ^[9]. Environmentalists hope that coronavirus taught the world and its policymakers that prevention measures are worth their money.

Effects on European Environmental Policy

It appears as though the European Union is strongly keeping in mind environmental efforts when discussing healing from the coronavirus. EU leaders have stated that the Green Deal will be “at the heart of an intelligent recovery” and the EU executive has announced that the coronavirus crisis will not affect their previously stated environmental goals ^[10]. In fact, the European Commission is currently considering changing the 2030 target from 40% greenhouse gas emissions reduced to 50-55% ^[10]. When Europe adopted the Green Deal it made climate neutrality by 2050 legally binding, and outlines that European Member states are required by law to implement policies in order to achieve this target ^[11]. Recently, some EU member states have expressed concern that the economic consequences of the coronavirus will make it harder to meet these goals, as their governments may have limited resources and more pressing priorities rather than implement these changes ^[10]. The Czech Republic has even called for Brussels to drop the Green Deal altogether ^[10]. Provided the Green Deal remains in place, the coronavirus pandemic will likely not have a significant effect on Europe reaching its environmental goals.

Sources

[1] https://news.wttw.com/2020/04/02/environmental-impact-covid-19-lockdowns-seen-space

[2]https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/coronavirus-air-pollution-carbon-dioxide-impact-environment-climate-crisis-a9446031.html

[3]https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326

[4]https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/transport-emissions-of-greenhouse-gases/transport-emissions-of-greenhouse-gases-12

[5] https://www.who.int/sustainable-development/transport/health-risks/air-pollution/en/

[6] https://nypost.com/2020/04/07/3-ways-the-coronavirus-is-a-boon-to-the-environment/

[7]https://www.envirotech-online.com/article/air-monitoring/6/buttonwood-marketing-services/the-environmental-implications-of-coronavirus/2717

[8]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/coronavirus-lockdown-skies-clear-in-rome-paris-and-madrid?srnd=green

[9]https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-03-24/what-coronavirus-like-response-to-climate-crisis-would-look-like

[10]https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-eu/eu-presses-on-with-tighter-2030-climate-target-despite-pandemic-idUSKBN21I386

[11] https://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/reflecting-on-climate-neutrality-ambitions