While it is widely accepted that the disruptions due to COVID-19 resulted in a significant decrease in air pollution and more specifically global carbon emissions have there been any negative impacts of COVID-19 on climate change?
Mukhlif M.S. quotes an article highlighting the systemic aspects.
I would like to add practical observations
-Covid19 has shown direct effect of human activity ( and its reduction during lockdown) on Climate. This is measurable, and sensed by anyone's lung in a large city: fresh air to breathe again.
This point has been rightly raised by @Beverly Chittoo.
-the transformation from fuel engine to electric mobility is underway but still requires investments, developments, mass adoption.
-transport and mobility after Covid19 ?
There may be a reluctance to use Climate friendly public transport, because they are seen as unsafe, wit crowding in station and in carriages or buses , peak hours, etc.
This might push for more climate unfriendly car use in some places, bicycles, electrical individual vehicles (cycles, scooters, etc).
Bicycles are selling or renting quickly now, in large cities. Those lucky bike owner clean it and refurbish it in a hurry, which brings busiess to cycle repair shops.
As a consequence people get fitter through walking and cycling, while respecting the environment.
Cities are assessing the benefit for all, and consider launching or strengthening walk/cycle policies.
However, look at facts too: Paris after lockdown has again road and street traffic jams amounting to 100 km at peak hours
See also my question:
”Can COVID-19 influence global warming?”
COVID-19 is an action too short to change the climate ...
The shutdown due to the virus has reduced human activity and the tools it uses, such as cars, factories, planes, and so on.
This is a noticeable thing, even though the reduction in activity and movement leads to a decrease in waste in the streets and public places.
This is clear and tangible, but what the negative impact of the virus on the environment must be studied, but it is possible to link its results with reducing the general human activity.
@Beverly Chittoo
The essence is reinvigorating and relishing itself rather in the context of external viciousness.
It seems to me very difficult to quantitatively assess the effects of the cessation of most commercial and industrial activities and the confinement of the population, caused by COVID-19, on climate change. While it is widely accepted that the disturbances due to COVID-19 led to a significant reduction in air pollution and more specifically in global carbon emissions, however, the validation of reduction hypotheses based on thoughts and / or observations on the greenhouse gas emissions need to be confirmed (from quantitative methods).
In my opinion, for the evaluation of the probable effects of COVID-19 on climate variability, it is necessary to be approached on the basis of a time period. For the current "Anthropocene" geological period, climate specialists adopt a minimum time period of 10 years to quantitatively assess the effects of actions on climate change.
However, I think that the questioning of the effects of COVID-19 on climate variability, based on the reduction of emissions, is very relevant.
Satellite images showing dramatic drops in air pollution in coronavirus hotspots around the globe have circulated widely on social media, Scientists have confirmed that air quality in certain regions has improved in recent weeks. As industries, aviation, and other means of transportation stop, air pollution is reduced countries severely affected by the virus, such as China, Italy, and Spain. A reduction in commuting due to work from home policies has also played its part in reducing carbon emissions.
In my opinion, yes there is. the covid-19 outbreak had an impact on climate change. one of which, it is difficult for people to be safe from tropical storms.
Yes there should have been some negative impacts of Covid 19 to certain business, even most of businesses. The impacts relates to going concern issues and subsequent event issues. The Financial Statements should be adjusted by the financial impacts caused by the Covid 19 event.
In my opinion, due to the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (pandemic Covid-19 disease) pandemic, atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen slightly. Consequently, the impact of the Koronavirus pandemic on climate change is positive rather than negative. In recent months, due to the development of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic, the rapid reduction and slowdown of the pandemic development has become a priority. The issue of climate change and the need to implement the principles of sustainable development has now come to the background. Paradoxically, the current pandemic due to reduced production processes in many regions and countries of the world has resulted in improved air quality and natural reconstruction processes of natural ecosystems polluted for years. The global warming problem, like the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic, is a global problem, so international cooperation is needed to change priorities. In connection with the above, a very negative effect of the progressing global warming process are more and more frequent weather anomalies and climatic disasters, above all the more frequent drought causing forest fires. Probably 2020 will be another year of negative records resulting from climate change, i.e. even greater drought and even more forest fires than in previous years in many regions and countries around the world. Therefore, now in all countries of the world it should be recognized as the most important urgent implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in accordance with the green economy philosophy, even if it is associated with a slowdown in economic growth. Unfortunately, there is less and less time to change these priorities. In connection with the above, it is necessary to transform the classical economy and capitalism into the green economy as soon as possible by implementing the principles of sustainable pro-ecological economic development, including financing the creation and implementation of pro-ecological innovations and pro-ecological reforms in many branches of modern economies, primarily in energy through the development of renewable energy sources . On the other hand, the amount of data increasing day by day suggests that the current pandemic is already in the stabilization phase and / or is beginning to gradually phase out. When the Coronavirus pandemic ends, the level of production, the scale of economic activity, the rate of economic growth, the level of electricity consumption by enterprises will return to the state before the pandemic. Therefore, the period of positive pandemic effect on climate will probably last for a relatively short period of time.
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Although it is true that in the first pollution maps of China shown a reduction in CO2 emissions over the months, we have seen that there has been a rebound effect, meaning that industrial production and therefore emissions of CO2 have had to be increased to make up for the lack of products caused by its previous closure. Furthermore, in crisis situations, countries are less likely to invest large amounts of money on the green agenda or to put restrictions on industrial development and companies based on their climate impact. On the contrary, it is likely that in trying to solve the increase in unemployment and the economic impact they will try to relax these restrictions, which would have a negative long-term effect on the climate. Even so, it is too soon to be able to affirm it.
I think it will be some time before anyone is able to prove, unequivocally, an effect of COVID-19 on Climate Change- negative or positive. There have been several bits of evidence of reduced air pollution ( particularly CO2) over several countries, but there is no immediate and linear link between CO2 concentration and Climate Change. Additionally, we don't know if these pollution changes are too temporary to count ultimately.
Happy "Aid el -Kebir" to all our dear fellow Muslims; May God bless you always and protect you