Climate Change and COVID-19: Why Can’t We Take Science Seriously?

It seems we have a problem, particularly in the United States, in regards to ignoring science until it is too late. This has suddenly become all too prevalent, as this country tops the list for most reported cases of COVID-19.

No matter your political opinions and views, I think if we look at scientific evidence, we can all see how unprepared we were for this pandemic. Why? Because our country has unfortunately ignored warnings from medical professionals and scientists once again. The evidence is right before our eyes.

We watched on television as this virus demolished some of China’s population and again as it ravaged through Italy, then Spain. Our government knew it was coming. The proof is in the fact that members of Congress knew the dangers ahead of time, which is why they sold stock before the market crashed initially. It’s in the news reports from other countries that already suffered. It’s in the fact that this virus is spreading like wildfire in our country right now. It’s in the cries for help to flatten the curve that health professionals have been shouting out for the last month.

While I understand and feel the fears and anxieties caused by this pandemic - I feel them too - I cannot help but compare this situation to climate change. Now that people will understand the importance of listening to science before it is too late, will they care about the environment?

The “Silver Lining” of COVID-19’s Shutdowns

If you use social media or watch enough of the news, you’ve probably already seen the evidence that this pandemic is restoring the environment or seemingly reversing climate change. As much as I love silver linings, this belief that the virus is doing good for our planet is dangerous.

The positive results appear very positive - and I’m not saying that they aren’t good! I always love to see the planet thriving. For anyone unaware of what I am referring to, I'll give you some examples.

First, air pollution has decreased in areas hit hard by COVID-19 around the globe. In China, the implementation of a lockdown was so sudden, NASA reported that the clearing of their atmosphere could be seen in satellite images. This same exact thing happened weeks later when the situation moved to Europe, especially over Italy. Now, they are again seeing less air pollution in major U.S. cities, like New York and Seattle, that have shut down to encourage social distancing. Not only is this good for the environment, but it is also good for this specific virus as well. Because COVID-19 causes respiratory issues, any air pollution would make the symptoms and conditions worse for people in regions with more pollution regularly.

Next, in Italy, we saw their canals turn clear for the first time in decades. This is because, with the country on lockdown, there are few - if any - boats in them. Less boats means there is less water pollution. After the water turned clear, people saw more fish swimming in the canals too.

In the United States, major gatherings that typically result in more waste and litter, like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston, are being canceled due to regulations of social distancing. Surely, with more states taking these same measures over time, we will likely see more environmental benefits in the coming weeks.

How is this all possible, though?

A friend of mine pointed out that perhaps it is not the absence of humans that makes the difference, but instead it may be the absence of capitalism. While this theory is not quite proven, it is worth some consideration.

Social distancing is only possible with the economy shutting down, as people are suddenly not traveling for work or school. This has also resulted in major industries that typically pollute the planet to slow down. One is the travel industry; the demand for cruises and airlines has decreased as people try to prevent the spread of the virus. There are also less cars on the road with less people trying to get from one place to another (like a job or to school), and we are seeing a slow in the need for public transportation now that people are staying home. Another industry that has slowed is that of production companies; factories are shutting down as people are being laid off or asked not to work and as the demand for certain supplies (like automobiles, for example) dwindles down for the time being.

However, Is This Really a “Silver Lining”?

Unfortunately, it would be wrong to believe that the environment is only benefiting from the response to COVID-19. Many people - including myself - actually fear the repercussions of this pandemic more than we appreciate the short-term benefits of it. Don’t get me wrong, I am not typically a pessimist. However, the idea that people are latching onto these silver linings - likely because it is the only hope they have - is scary for the planet long-term.

I don’t mean to take away your hope. I encourage that you actually stay hopeful. I certainly am. That being said, you should understand that we are still in a losing battle with climate change, and it might get worse after this pandemic finally comes to an end.

What Are the Negative Impacts of COVID-19 on the Planet, Then?

My biggest concern, and perhaps the most obvious, is the massive amount of medical waste we are producing around the world. Certainly, the requirement for medical professionals to use single-use products is completely necessary, which I understand. They need to take precautions, especially for this new virus because of the uncertainty surrounding it. However, from an environmental standpoint, it will still be detrimental.

Most medical waste already cannot be recycled for safety reasons. It could potentially be hazardous. But take a second to consider everything that is single-use in this industry, from needles to contaminated gloves, to the paper sheets patients sit on, the gowns they wear, and the sanitizer wipes or paper towels to keep facilities clean. Currently, there are very few companies even trying to recycle medical waste because the process is made longer by the safety measures in place. Thus, most of it ends up in landfills. Now, in addition to the medical waste coming out of healthcare facilities, we should also think about the amount of waste being produced as a result of people wearing gloves and masks in public places (like grocery stores). If the facilities who need supplies like masks and gloves are fighting to get them, consider the amount that has already been wasted to this point.

Another problem we are facing is panic buying. Yes, I am talking about the reason that store shelves rarely have toilet paper and pasta. People are buying in bulk, and the packaging for this produces quite a bit of waste. People who are buying foods that are perishable may be seeing it wasted. This is only half of the story. In many places, we are seeing a ban on reusable bags to prevent the spread of the virus on surfaces, more single-use wipes being used to wipe down doors and shopping carts, people littering in parking lots of grocery stores (yes, they are throwing their gloves and wipes on the ground!), and an increase in online shopping for those who are not leaving their houses.

Some more things you should know: in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has loosened their guidelines and relaxed the enforcement of environmental laws during the COVID-19 pandemic; some scientists are questioning whether climate change, specifically the aspect of habitat loss, contributed to the outbreak; and studies are showing that places already being hit hard by the inequity of impacts from climate change are going to be hit even harder once it is over.

Perhaps the cherry on top of everything is that, after this war against COVID-19 has been won and social distancing regulations are eliminated, it is highly likely that there will be a “boom” that will be detrimental to climate change. People will be back to work, and as the economy bounces back, the negative impacts on our planet will soar. People will be excited to go out again, traveling will become popular, and pollution will rise again.

So, What Should Your Take-Away Be?

Instead of actively panicking about the many anxiety-inducing aspects of our current state of living, do what you can to flatten the curve and reduce your carbon footprint. Do your research! Understand what steps you can take to help combat climate change in the long run, while doing your part to stop the spread of COVID-19 by staying safe and healthy in the short-term.

Most importantly, please, for the love of all that is good in this world, listen to science! If the whole world listened to science decades ago, we would not be in a losing battle with climate change. Similarly, if our country listened to science a few months ago, we would not be losing so many lives to this pandemic.

Just do your part: Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay sane. And listen to science.