IN WHAT WAYS HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE ENVIRONMENT?

 Introduction

Several environmental and climatic repercussions have resulted from the worldwide disturbance produced by COVID-19. Many cities' air quality has gotten better and water contamination has decreased, as a result of restrictions on travel and a major slowing of economic and social activity. In the following sections, there will be a discussion related to the Online assignment help Los Angeles reduction of greenhouse gas and pollution, waste management, ecosystem effects, energy consumption, international climate change, and recommendation. In the end, there will be a conclusion based on this essay.

Reduction of greenhouse gas and pollution

In 2019, fossil CO2 emissions (including those from petroleum, natural gas, coal, plus cement) reached a record high of 36.64 GtCO2, before plummeting by an astonishing 1.98 GtCO2 (5.6%) in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preliminary estimates suggest that master thesis help,  within the first five months of 2021, worldwide emission in the power, industrial, and household sectors had already returned to the exact same level or been higher than during the identical time frame of 2019. Vehicle-related pollution levels have stayed roughly 6 percent lower.

The worldwide loss of ozone was precipitated by a decline in NOx due to the COVID. A less-than-positive impact of restricting NOx was discovered in the latest research by using satellite data of a wide range of contaminants (Camargo-Caicedo et al. 2021). This pollutant interacts with water to produce the hydroxyl radical, a fleeting molecule that is crucial in the breakdown of long-lived gasses in the environment. While a decrease in NOx emissions was helpful in addressing air pollution, the epidemic hampered the process through which the environment naturally removed another significant greenhouse gas: methane.

Despite widespread economic slowdown, by the year 2020, emission levels had recovered to around the time of the pandemic (Huang et al. 2021). The authors explain that with the current global energy infrastructure, this increase in emissions was likely essential for firms and people to retain any level of economic output.

It's heartening to see the number of nations committed to net-zero emission objectives rise; now, these goals account for around 63% of world emissions. To be realistic and credible, nevertheless, these targets must be expressed in policy decisions made in the near future and in NDCs that are far more aspirational for the years leading up to 2030.

 

Plastic pollution and waste management shifts

Overall plastics manufacturing fell as lockdowns and border controls disrupted supply systems. According to Plastics Europe (2021), global plastics output fell by 0.3% in 2020 from 2019. The early period of the pandemic had low oil prices, which may have increased manufacturing, particularly of basic polymers, by lowering their cost. However, the price for secondary (recycled) plastics is tied to that of primary, therefore low oil prices suggest that growth of recycled plastics slowed in 2020.

Although there has been a trend toward cloth masks during the COVID-19 epidemic, demand for plastic masks for the face is much greater than it was before the pandemic (Al Qahtani et al. 2022). There is a lack of reliable statistics on the total amount of face masks manufactured and disposed over the world in 2020, beyond the local and anecdotal information mentioned above.

In 2020, research proposal writing chicago the need for packaging was affected in several ways by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rise of takeout, delivery, and online shopping has led to a greater need for plastic containers. The need for plastic containers to store hygienic goods like disinfecting gel also rose (Yusoff et al. 2021). In contrast, demand for packaging fell as a result of the shutdown of businesses and other restrictions on economic activity.

 Although plastic packaging output fell overall in 2020, a great deal more plastic was used for packaging in e-commerce than in previous years. Initial estimates suggest that 11.5–17.5 kt of plastics were used in the European Union as a result of e-commerce, compared to what would have been expected had business continued as normal.

Effects on ecosystem and wildlife

Because of the decline in pollution and the resulting emptiness of public areas, urban wildlife has been able to explore new areas of the city. Animals are being observed entering cities all over the globe as a result of people staying inside their houses to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. While the world waits, we may reevaluate how we interact with the natural world (Zhang et al. 2020). If we care about the future of urban environment, we must master the art of living together.  The effects of quarantine on animals have been surprising. Monkeys and many other types of animals in places like India have adapted very well to city life, and they rely significantly on human food scraps. Further complicating matters is the practice of feeding monkeys for religious reasons, which teaches them to equate humans with food. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this position. The elephants' future is unclear, despite the fact that they are temporarily free from the constraints of illegal wildlife tourism (Wilkinson et al. 2023). The elephants' chances of making it are diminished because of the owners' inconsistent revenue and the scarcity of available food and veterinary treatment.

Energy consumption pattern change

Home usage of energy rose as more individuals were required to work from home or take care of young children, resulting in greater time invested in the home.

Energy usage in industrial and commercial structures has decreased significantly as a consequence of company closures and a decline in industrial operations (Gholami et al. 2021).

The use of fuel and demand for electricity in transportation have dropped significantly as a result of travel limitations and changes in commute habits.

As a result of the epidemic, there have been shifts in the growth and integration of renewable energy sources, which has reduced the efficiency with which solar and wind power systems operate.

 Lockdowns have a negative impact on demand in the short term, but if they are lifted, demand should rise again. As a second wave of pandemics is on its way, the cycle of decline and recovery will continue.  Although lower energy demand is associated with a lower GDP, anticipated energy intensity in China, the United States, and Japan all show some indication of an increase (Umar et al. 2021).

Evidence of the interdependence of social behaviour, economic activity, and renewable energy sources was shown by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on electrical power practices. Long-term adjustments toward sustainable energy practices were highlighted, as was the necessity for flexible and robust energy systems.

Pandemic and international climate agreements

1. The historic 2015 Paris Agreement aims to address the effects of climate change and limit global temperature increase. It targets emissions of greenhouse gases and encourages worldwide climate action. This agreement has been tested and altered by the pandemic (DeConto et al.,2021). The pandemic's economic collapse and industrial slowdown temporarily lowered emissions. The epidemic also slowed climate ambitions. The postponement of COP26 until 2021 slowed discussions and hampered international climate action. The epidemic has shown that global climate change efforts must be guided by the Paris Agreement.
2. The UNFCCC underpins worldwide climate change collaboration. It seeks greenhouse gas stabilization and sustainable development. The epidemic has affected UNFCCC processes, particularly COP meetings. The pandemic postponed 2020's COP26. This delay hampered climate funding, adaption, and mitigation talks. However, the epidemic has allowed recovery efforts to evaluate and include climate goals (McKenzie, 2021). Many nations realize the need to integrate economic recovery packages with climate ambitions to rebuild better and greener. The UNFCCC continued to promote climate action and international collaboration despite the epidemic.

Recommendations

●       Educate and inform the public more effectively on the connections between the preservation of the environment, wellness for humans, and the avoidance of potential pandemics.

●       To guarantee long-term viability and preparation for future emergencies, post-pandemic recovery initiatives should include climate change concerns and resiliency planning.

●       Encourage nations to work together to combat the effects of climate change and other environmental threats via measures including expanding access to climate-related finance and sharing technological know-how (Yan et al. 2021).

●       Collaborations, public-private partnerships, and grass-roots activities should be encouraged to increase community involvement in sustainable development programs.

●       Recognizing the critical role, they play in avoiding zoonotic illnesses and boosting resilience, people must put first nature preservation and rehabilitation activities to safeguard ecosystems as well as biodiversity.

●       Improve sustainable results by continuously monitoring and assessing the environmental implications of pandemic response efforts.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that there are some positive effects for some wildlife animals but negative effects on human life. By 2020, emission levels had rebounded to roughly where they had been around the time of the epidemic, despite the global economic recession. The authors state that given the present global energy infrastructure, the rise in emissions was probably necessary for businesses and individuals to maintain any level of economic activity. The effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on electrical power practices demonstrated the interconnectedness of social behavior, economic activity, and renewable energy sources. Changes toward more sustainable energy practices over the long run were stressed, as was the need for systems that could adapt to changing conditions.