Unexpected Benefits of the Pandemic on the Environment

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the pandemic has created some unexpected and positive changes to our environment. It’s estimated an average of 4.6 million people die as a direct result of pollution annually. But now that everything is closed and people are staying home, smog in some of the most populated cities in the world has cleared. Air pollution levels in some places are also reportedly down by as much as 49% from the previous year. Animals are returning to their natural habitats and even roaming empty streets, as well as other countless unforeseen positive outcomes.
Conservation scientist, Stuart Pimm of Duke University, said of the phenomenon that “it is giving us extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet.” He said it’s also “giving us an opportunity to magically see how much better it can be.” While it’s believed the effects of the pandemic on the environment may be temporary, recent studies have proved it’s not impossible to maintain if we so choose to do so.