Adjusting to the drastic changes many of us are going through right now is not easy. Life changed so suddenly and at times it may feel like a fever dream that you will snap out of. Sometimes change can be good, although it may not seem like it at first. We can all agree that this pandemic has changed many aspects of life. Countries have responded in different ways to slow down the spread of the virus. Some countries have gone on lockdown and others have issued a stay-at-home order like here in the United States. This has affected people’s mobility and caused a halt to the anthropogenic impact on the environment. Within the past couple weeks, the environmental impacts due to the lockdown and stay-at-home order have become visible. We are seeing changes in our environment that have not been witnessed in a very long time. The earth is breathing and healing, which is good news! Watching all of these changes has really given me time to reflect on the anthropocene impact and how much we have altered the environment in a short time span. I have listed below two environmental impacts that stood out to me.
Decrease in air pollution
Because many people are home, there has been a drastic decrease in CO2 emissions. There are less cars on the streets, many businesses are closed down, there is less fossil fuel burning. In places like India, the people can see the Himalayas for the first time in 30 years. Which is crazy to think about because the Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world.
Decrease in air pollution in India is also very visible at the India Gate War Memorial in New Delhi. In the tweet below, the photo on the left was taken last year and the photo on the right was taken recently. When I first saw both photos, I was shocked that the standpoint of both photos isn’t far from the India gate. This really put into perspective how much air pollution has decreased within only a matter of weeks. In New Delhi, air pollution has dropped down by 60%.
Now as you know or have probably heard, Los Angeles traffic is terrible. On a daily basis, commuters are stuck in traffic for hours. If construction is going on or if there’s a motor accident, it’s even worse. At any time of the day, you can guarantee that there will be some traffic, so seeing pictures of nearly empty highways in LA is something I have difficulty wrapping my mind around. I have never seen LA highways that empty before, even during late hours. It’s weird to observe once lively streets now almost empty. I have complained about the traffic many times and try to carpool or use public transportation whenever I can. I always encourage others to try eco-friendly practices as well. But, seeing those images of empty LA made me feel a bit odd. It was almost as if I didn’t recognize LA anymore. However, these empty highways are a sign of good news that gives me hope for a cleaner, sustainable future. Air pollution in LA has dropped by 31%. For a huge city like LA, that is a drastic decrease. These changes in the environment prove that it is possible to protect and maintain a healthy environment if we change our consumption levels and practices. It also demonstrates the need to put pressure on policymakers to start prioritizing the environment and implementing policies with concepts of sustainability, equity, and social justice.
Clearer water
Another environmental impact of the stay-at-home order and lockdown is that, around the globe, the water is clearing. The national lockdown in Italy has shut many citizens inside their homes, and there is no sign of human presence outside. In cities like Venice, a very popular tourist destination, the water canals are clearing. Local residents are saying they have not seen the water this clear in decades. There is less water pollution coming from motorboats, such as water taxis. There are no tourists since the country is on lockdown. Fish are visible throughout the water canals and swans are appearing in the open waters.
In September 2019, I was able to visit Venice for the first time. The pictures of the clear water canals in empty Venice today look nothing like my experience during my trip there. There are no roads to drive on in Venice, so the only way to get around is by walking or by boat. The narrow paths were jam-packed with people moving around and the canals were busy with gondolas, water taxis, and private boats. There definitely was a much bigger human presence than wildlife presence when I visited and now it's the opposite. Observing the wildlife make their way to these once heavily populated places makes me wonder how widely we have affected wildlife and their habitats. I think it's important to practice wildlife conservation and respect, as well as recognize that these animals are close by.
Arts and Lectures “Forces of Nature” series
Before the spring quarter was moved online, I was part of the Event Staff for Arts and Lectures. I would work the actual events, doing tasks such as taking tickets, showing patrons to their seats, or working backstage on hospitality. My favorite events this past season were from the “Forces of Nature” series that A&L had just launched. “Forces of Nature” was a series of lectures and films that featured different environmental leaders, activists, and authors. The common theme was how we can protect the planet and be a part of the current environmental movement. One event that stood out to me was Bill McKibben’s talk about our changing climate. Bill McKibben is an American environmentalist and journalist who focuses primarily on the impact of global warming. He is also the founder of 350.org, a grassroots international environmental organization that addresses the climate crisis. I have heard about 350.org but didn’t really know what it was or who the founder was. During the conversation, he talked about the need for global reforms to address climate change. There is a strong need to mitigate the effects of climate change before it's too late. Bill McKibben’s lecture was inspiring and really motivated me to do my part in protecting the planet and spreading the word to others.
Witnessing all the environmental changes during this pandemic has made me more conscious of what I can do to improve my practices toward being eco-friendly. This season, A&L showed a film titled, Anthropocene: The Human Epoch. The film reveals how much we have altered the environment. Humans have pushed the limits of the environment too far, and we have to recognize and respect the limits. There is no Planet B. If we want a future for generations to come, we need to work together and start creating a positive impact on the environment.
What now?
During the lockdown, many of us are seeing bluer skies and breathing cleaner air. However, I have to emphasize that these environmental impacts are temporary if we return to the “normal”. Our fast-paced lifestyles pushed by capitalism are not sustainable. Our detrimental habits have become normalized and it’s putting the planet at risk. We need to put pressure on political leaders to address climate change and create laws that protect the environment. We also need to hold corporations who constantly exploit natural resources for profit, accountable. There needs to be a stop to environmental degradation that is contributing to climate change. I also hope we take some time to reflect on our day to day activities and the impact it has on the environment. I hope you are inspired to reduce your ecological footprint. Personally, I believe it’s possible to live in a just and sustainable environment.
Cover image photo credit: Steven Pisano
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