The COVID-19 pandemic flu, despite the devastating fear it has caused humanity, has provided “environmental benefit“, a popular opinion seeing that nature is slowly being restored while people stayed at home. However, the truth may well not come close to this hope.
Many people find exciting benefits from the start-from cleaner air to bird sounds that can be heard as cars and planes become quieter. However, the sad truth is that this is just temporary. As the lockdown eases in every corner of the world, the temporary clean air and bird songs seem to have been gone as soon as it came. Now, several experts worry that the world is facing a future with more traffic and pollution, climate change worsening quicker than in the past. It is not too early to find out whether this gloomy situation will continue, but news about the signs appears to be increasing worldwide.
Earlier in April, worldwide carbon emissions fell 17% in comparison with last year due to extensive shutdowns. However, as of June 11, according to the new data, normal activity hasn’t yet entirely recovered, but it recorded only 5% below the same mark in 2019.
“Still, we have the same car, the same road, the same industry, the same house,” said Corinene LeQuéré, climate change professor at the University of East Anglia in the UK. “Therefore, once the limit is removed, it will return to its original state.”
“The risk of lethal carbon emissions is very high, just before and after the epidemic,” she said. In the 2007-08 financial turmoil, emissions decreased but rebounded.
Hints on China’s dirty recovery
China was one of the first countries to be exposed to the virus and among the first that also shut down. The experience of China provided people with the many possibilities we are heading in the future. The improvement in air quality now seems to have suddenly ceased.
Pollution returned in China’s major cities as many factories pushed hard to make up for the losses during the lockdown. The government, eager to carry out economic growth from any building construction are approving a large number of new coal-fired power plants which hugely contribute to the pollution in China. Experts warn that if the new plant continues to move forward, it will lock in major future health and climate issues, as this infrastructure will surely be used for many years.
Prioritizing a clean environment had been forgotten and placed priority in economic development. All of a sudden, there are too many permits being released and there go investments on clean energy, instead focused more investments on coal. This is very alarming.
Bottom Line
The world experienced severe economic fall and if all nations will duplicate China’s move to strengthen their economy without considering the environment, our world will be in danger once again. But this time, it will be us to be blamed. Consumers should be wiser in their purchases. Makers of orbital sanders like the BO5031 are committed to producing useful products while taking care of the environment.
