Global Pandemic: A Boon or Bane for Environment?
You must have heard, “Nature is healing” many times this past year. COVID-19 has led to a revival of nature. During the lockdown, carbon emissions and pollution were less. It has forced humans to be caged indoors, while nature appears to be in reboot mode. But with the powered air-purifying respirator papr you can step out safely. Let’s see if the Global Pandemic: A Boon or Bane for Environment?
COVID-19 Crises
The Covid-19 crisis has brought the entire world to a standstill. At the pace at which technological development was taking place globally, we felt that the control of everything in this world is in our hands and we can change whatever we wished to change.
However, this pandemic has brought us to the conclusion that we all are mere players in the hands of nature which we had been taking for granted for several decades together. It had been sending signals in one form or the other to mend our ways but we have been ignoring it impertinently.
The initial phases of this disease made us believe that because of the restricted movements of people within their respective cities, there has been a relief for the environment. But everything isn’t so rosy.
Global Pandemic: A Boon or Bane for Environment?
Boon 1-
No exhausts from factories, no fumes from cars, cleaner rivers and oceans, clearer skies, and fresher air to breathe.
Boon 2-
Because of this, we could see a lot of species of birds, insects, and animals which had long been lost because of our indiscriminate play with the environment. For instance, there was a day when a Neelgai was found roaming on the roads of Noida, which before commercialization was once arable land. This indicates how our activities have trespassed into the various fauna’s original habitats and have interfered with their interaction with nature.
Boon 3-
The Himalayas could be sighted from Punjab, and the skies have never been bluer over Delhi.
Boon4-
Animals have got the free will to wander during the lockdown. These changes could be transitory but a healing moment for nature. On the other hand, this could be a lull before the storm, emissions could shoot up to catastrophic levels.
Boon 5-
Work from home, videoconferencing, and online orders for groceries may decrease fuel emissions.
Boon 6
Few organizations have created plastic-free shields or visors. They are made from FSC paperboard and PEFC cellulose.
Boon 7
Noise pollution-There is a visible drop in noise pollution, which is very positive. People in the cities are hearing birdsong. It has reduced noise pollution in industrial areas and commercial zones. This was because of the lockdown when more industries and market areas were closed. Due to this, the use of generators was also reduced.
Boon 8
Purifying of Rivers
Water bodies in India are not in a good condition. Most of them are used as sewers. They are difficult to treat. In the name of economic growth, most of the rivers and streams have been polluted.
But extraordinarily, the Ganga water quality has improved extraordinarily during the lockdown period.
Bane1
Because of social distancing, the use of Public Transport may decrease. This will lead to high pollution levels.
Bane 2
Due to the fallout of the Coronavirus, we are frequently washing our hands. This has increased the daily wastewater, thus increasing the daily wastewater.
Bane 3
The lockdown led to a mad rush of stocking up on groceries. These plastic bags used to be reused. But now due to the fear of corona we discard the bags immediately. We are enhancing the amount of garbage going out of the house.
Bane 4
The use of disposable masks and other PPE like gloves, face shields, and uniforms is harmful to the environment. Landfill sites and water bodies are getting choked with all this waste.
Bane 5
The World Economic Forum envisages that there will be fewer fish and more plastic in the ocean by 2050.
Conclusion for Global Pandemic: A Boon or Bane for Environment?
If Nature is healing itself, the moot question here is “will this healing continue or end after the lockdown?”
People will again indulge in actions that lead to air pollution. Mechanization and heavy traffic will again affect the quality of the air and the beneficial effects of this lockdown on the environment will stand null and void.
Global Pandemic: A Boon or Bane for Environment?
Researchers believe that if all of us become ideal citizens and do our bit, we can control this pollution. We can do this to a great extent, by electrifying transportation, increasing public transportation, and constructing bike lanes, and carpools which would intensely reduce India’s emissions from its chief human air pollution source.
If Covid-19 is a worldwide sickness and a significant threat to human health that obstructs economic development, we still look it upon as a blessing in disguise, where pollution is less and we reestablished biodiversity.
They have predicted that if we don’t restrain our anthropogenic activities, there are possibilities for such pandemics to come up and create more havoc. Let us all pledge to rid the earth of the banes Global Pandemic: A Boon or Bane for Environment?
Read more of my travel blogs.Srinagar Travelogue Part I and Travelogue on Kashmir | Doodhpathri and CauseAChatter Blogs Andhra style Moringa leaves stir fry, Teaching Grandchildren how to garden, How to grow marigolds from dry flowers, How to Grow Microgreens at home, From Garden to Table| Mango Ginger Preserve, Natural way to get rid of garden pests, From Garden to table-Ajwain ke pakode
‘This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’
Even a pandemic has certain benefits. Probably the pandemic is the planet’s way of healing itself.
Yes, this pandemic has been a boon and a bane for the environment. It has been an eye opener on many fronts. It taught us to value things that are really important. It opened up new opportunities for many and of course, it created havoc for a lot of people too.
Recently I had the same discussion with a friend of mine about the same. Pandemic has turned our lives upside down but there is a silver lining when talking about various things. Getting fresh air is at the top.
Though this pandemic was so stressful for all of us but I am glad you have shared some positive effect of this time in this post. yes, this pandemic has given an opportunity to heal mother nature by itself and give us a cleaner rivers and oceans, clearer skies, and fresher air to breathe.
One could see initial benefits of the lockdowns as you mentioned but I believe all of those were reset once lockdowns ended. However, the bigger benefit is that many corporates are now willing to change their way of work going towards hybrid solutions. There is a huge focus on building back green.
Everything has pros and cons so does pandemic. You have pointed out almost everything. One more this which I feel Thais pandemic has bought is more family time which I am so very thankful. But again it has some side effects. Add your rightly said whether pandemic or no pandemic as a citizen we have some responsibility that we should not forget.
The pandemic surely has some good effects on environment, the point is now we have to maintain the flourished greenery by making smart choice and by becoming responsible citizen.
Comimg to think of it yes, it has been a boon too. The kind of climatic issues we have in Delhi makes us wonder how good it was during the lockdown
Lockdown has been a blessing in disguise for me as well. The kind of exposure with myself that I have never had helped me walk the path of self love
Pandemic became a breakthrough in human development. Relationship changed , environment changes, life’s perspective changed. Perhaps this was much needed
Oh that’s happening too! It’s crazy. There are pros and cons to everything but yes we have to mend our ways so the world becomes a better place for the future generations!
I enjoyed reading your post ,you have penned down so nicely, the positive and negative points though the pandemic has taught us to be patient and rethink that life is equally important.
This pandemic showed us a way to bring a change that can be beneficial for all. But why does it has to be imposed, can’t we take the responsibility individually? We all want to bring the change but we don’t want to change ourselves.
a well-balanced post mentioning both pros and cons of the pandemic. This made both a thoughtful and interesting read.
This pandemic was one that was not anticipated by anyone. the scale with which it has spread and affected the lives is immense. I think it is more of a bane as nothing can revive a near and dear one that has succumbed to this virus.
The pandemic surely has some boon and bane effects on environment. We need to become more responsible and dont repeat the mistakes we were doing and protect our environment .
Every situation is like a coin, comes with 2 sides, a good and a bad one. Covid 19 did help the mother nature recuperate at the same time did some harm too.