Did you ever wonder how COVID-19 is affecting the nature around us? Before COVID-19, people have constantly been harming the environment through water, air, and land pollution, not to mention destroying habitats and endangering animals. Many people did not realize their negative influence on nature until the pandemic emerged.
Currently, everything is changing. Recently, the environment has been showing significantly positive changes. COVID-19 resulted in a prolonged quarantine period, which minimized outdoor social activities, helped nature recover, and decreased air pollution. According to the article, “COVID-19 and Climate Change: The Unexpected Pairing”, “The average number of “good quality air days” increased 21.5 percent in February, compared to the same period last year, according to China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment” (2020). This article compares the situation before and after the COVID-19 and how people’s lives have improved. Besides, water quality has improved over the time of quarantine, as the article “Environmental effects of COVID-19 pandemic and potential strategies of sustainability” demonstrates. The article’s authors, Tanjera Rume and S.M. Didar-UI Islam, highlight the effects of COVID-19 on the environment and how water pollution decreased during this period (2020). To this end, although COVID-19 brings discomfort and harm to people, nature is recovering.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the environment has undoubtedly improved. The significance of the environmental changes alerts people to preserve and protect the environment. Since there are various ways people can conserve our ecosystem—use less plastic, recycle, and decrease car rides—everyone should take a more active approach to revitalize nature.
By: Reea Kim