COVID-19: An Accidental Climate Experiment
If you’re like me, you have little patience for the argument, “I believe in climate change, I just don’t think humans have much to do with it.” It’s an argument that translates to accepting the scientific evidence while stopping shy of taking responsibility for the implications of that evidence. It’s especially frustrating because examples of the human/climate change connection abound right now thanks to COVID-19.
You may have seen reporting on Italy experiencing a return of dolphins, swans, and clear water due to the country’s lockdown. Lower human activity means less pollution means more vibrant animal life. This paradigm seems logical and energized many observers.
Unfortunately, these reports were overblown and in fact, swans and dolphins have been spotted in the Venice canals for a while. The waterways may be clearer because boats aren’t kicking up sediment but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are cleaner in terms of reduced pollution.
I bring up the Italy example because it is one of the most well-known, if not entirely accurate. It also highlights A.) how excited we are to see the presence of the natural world in our lives, and B.) how we instinctively draw a connection between human activity and the relative vibrance of that natural world.
Before we move on, I want to highlight one positive COVID-19 related environment story out of Italy. The mountainous geography of Northern Italy means that air pollution tends to get trapped over that part of the country. A combination of reduced industrial activity, lower traffic, and a handful of other factors since the country’s lockdown has resulted in a 40% decrease in air pollution in less than a month. They aren’t the only country seeing their air clean up.
China is well known for its air pollution. Once the country went on quarantine, (once the government took COVID-19 seriously) that pollution dropped almost immediately, upwards of 30% by some estimates. NASA and the European Space Agency have published satellite maps showing the radical shift over the country. Those maps also show the smog returning as quickly as it left when isolation requirements were relaxed.
Reporting on this phenomenon in China is quick to point out that these effects are largely temporary and dealt a serious blow to the society and economy. That’s a fair point but it underscores our control of the situation. With a little planning, we can wield that control without so many devastating consequences.
COVID-19 is tricking us into protecting wildlife as well. Congo’s Virunga National Park, home to nearly one third of all mountain gorillas, has barred visitors until June, at the earliest. Turns out, gorillas have breathing issues, are susceptible to human illnesses, and can die from the common cold. Because COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system, they aren’t taking chances.
Several wildlife preserves are taking similar precautions because of the novel nature of COVID-19. They don’t know how the virus will interact with the animals, many of which are endangered. They don’t want anyone with a runny nose anywhere near them. Seems weird that a runny nose is viewed as more of a threat than a trophy hunter with a high-powered rifle but that’s the world we live in, I guess.
COVID-19 is providing an effective if socially and economically harsh demonstration of just how much control we have over the world around us. In months, we accidentally cleaned some of the most polluted air in the world. Imagine what we could do if we put some effort in. Climate change is the result of our actions. Its solution will be the result of our actions as well.
