• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

The environmental impact of COVID-19 & why it provides hope for future

We have been provided with an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that our relationship with the environment can evolve to become more sustainable.

Guest Contributor by Guest Contributor
June 6, 2020
in Opinion
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

The destruction that COVID-19 has caused to the global community is immeasurable, with death tolls rising throughout the world and economies ground to a standstill. However, data suggests that with the lockdown measures in place the environment is receiving a well-earned break from the punishment industry provides.

40,000 deaths annually in the UK are attributed to air pollution, a shocking figure in itself (just 261 below the current total UK deaths from COVID-19). However, through a significant reduction in transport usage as well as global industry reducing its output, evidence suggests that nitrogen dioxide levels are seriously declining throughout Europe. NASA published images from one their space probes showing a significant reduction in harmful elements in the atmosphere, across the world. Not only has the atmosphere been given an opportunity to repair itself, but our oceans have received welcome respite from human activity. There is evidence to indicate that the reduction of fishing due to the pandemic, will enable marine ecosystems to flourish, last seen with the reduction in fishing during both world wars.

Lifestyles

The pandemic has provided us with an opportunity to see for ourselves that environmental issues can be tackled, and that environmental damage is not just an obscure issue that will affect later generations. The small changes we can see now are proof that changes in our lifestyles can and do make a positive difference to the world we all share. COVID-19 has unquestionably changed the way that society functions; people are working from home, remaining in doors and social distancing. Undoubtably when the virus fades away life will return to much of what it was before the outbreak, but lessons that may aid us in environmental protection must be taken on board by governments.

What has been shown clearly is that with information technology, much of the workforce can do their jobs remotely from their own homes. If this measure were to be adopted as ‘normal life’ post outbreak we would surely see a great reduction in the number of people commuting to work each day and consequently see a continued reduction of emissions. An additional (and highly positive) benefit felt by those not commuting to work is that they are able to spend more quality time with their families rather than traveling to and from work. This should become the new normal for as many roles as is possible.

The government needs to acknowledge the difference that can be made and put in place plans to protect our environment. Schemes to promote and improve public transport would enable us to reduce even further the number of cars on our roads, alongside a change in the way work, would be of the utmost benefit. While the chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is, and will continue to be devastating, we have been provided with an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that our relationship with the environment can evolve to become more sustainable.

By Phil Smith

Related – PMQs – PM fails to ‘take back control’ of Coronavirus, Brexit & in-tray

RelatedPosts

EU must take decisive action to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse

Building a Super Life Science Industry will be vital for UK to navigate the challenges of Brexit

Thoughts turn to UK as Trump administration ends

Donald Trump is gone. What next?

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The other prison pandemic

Credit;PA

Repressionomics: Get ready for the new permanent austerity

Latest from TLE

British Gas boss ‘lied about fire and rehire,’ claims MP as strike action to begin

Watch: Doctor ‘sickened’ when PM said Government has done all it can during pandemic

Rees-Mogg brands Sturgeon “Moanalot” after she questions PM’s trip to Scotland

Gove says PM is “popular across the UK” as polling shows support has dropped to just 29%

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.