Positives of Covid-19

Covid-19 has drastically changed the environment globally. It has impacted the environment both positively and negatively. However more positive impacts of lockdown are seen throughout the world then its negative impacts. The positive impacts of Covid-19 includes reduced fossil fuel consumption, reduce waste disposal, \reduced resource consumption, reduced transport activities, reduced pressure on tourists destinations. The negative impact of Covid-19 includes increased medical wastes, increased use of PPE, increased municipal waste and reduced recycling.

Impacts of Covid-19 on Environment:

A number of impacts on climate and environment has been observed due to the restrictions implemented globally. A worldwide lockdown has been implemented which has caused a slow down of various social and economic activities. Due to the restrictions implemented on movement reduction in different kinds of pollution has been observed through-out the world. Improved air quality, decrease in noise pollution along with reduction in water pollution has been seen. Besides positive effects negative impacts of Covid-19 are observed. An increased use of gloves, masks made up of PPE, harmful discharge from hospitals have caused negative impacts on environment.

Positive Impacts of Covid-19:

Some of the positive impacts of Covid-19 on environment are as below:

• Reduction of air pollution and green-house gases emission

• Reduction of noise pollution

• Reduction of water pollution

• Remarkable increase in tourism

2.1-Reduction in the emission of Green-House Gases and air pollution:

An apparent decrease in the emission of Green-House Gases has been observed due to the lockdown imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. During lockdown all the commercial and social activities were restricted. In comparison to year 2019, about 50% decrease in air pollution levels has been observed in New York City during the year 2020. In China closure of all commercial activities including factories and heavy industries has caused decrease of 50% in the concentration of CO and N2O. Decrease in NO₂ has been observed in number of countries like China, Canada, Brazil, US and Italy due to the lockdown.

The major emitter of NO₂ is fossil fuel. Motor vehicle exhaust causes about 80% of fossil fuel burning. This N2O is major cause of acid rain when it reacts with oxygen and water. About 30-60% of reduction in NO₂ emissions has been recorded by The European Environmental Agency in the cities of Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Rome. In United States 25.5% decrease in NO₂ has been recorded during lockdown. In Canada decrease of about 4.5 ppb to1 ppb has been observed.

The level of NO₂and particulate matter has been reduced by 70% in the city of Dehli. The major contributors of GHGs emission are vehicles and aviation. Due to Covid-19 restriction on travel has been imposed world-wide. Ultimate effects of lockdown has been seen on environment due to Lockdown. The restriction on travel leads to less burning of fossil fuels, which causes less emission of GHGs which helps to fight against the climatic change. During the first three months of 2020 the decrease of 435,000 barrels in oil demand has been noticed along the reduction in coal consumption.

The third world countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are suffering from the problem of water problem because industrial and domestic wastes are dumped off in the river without any end of pipe treatment. During Covid-19 lockdown a clear decrease in industrial pollution has been observed. An apparent level of purity in the river of Yamuna and Ganga has been seen during Covid-19 restrictions.

The decrease in the number of visitors at Rishikesh and Haridwar has helped in attaining significant level of purity of water. This lockdown has caused about 500% reduction in industrial and sewage effluents. The water of Grand canal of Italy has also turned clear due to the restriction imposed during Covid-19. The reduction in pollution has been observed at the beaches of Pakistan, Indonesia, Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh.