Covid 19: Every dark cloud has a silver lining

By Shreya Rai

The coronavirus outbreak has taken India by storm. In these testing times, it is ironic that this respiratory disease may actually lead to better breathing.
As the country observes a 21 day lockdown, the air quality has significantly improved across the subcontinent.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow has now dropped to ‘satisfactory’ and ‘good’ from ‘poor.’
Infamous for its dangerously high air pollution levels, the national capital witnessed this tremendous improvement within the first 3 days of the lockdown.
Nitrogen Oxide levels have fallen by approximately 45% in Mumbai and Pune, and 50% in Ahmedabad as per a report of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
Satellite images by NASA have revealed that this massive drop in nitrogen oxide, is not limited to India. It has also fallen drastically in Wuhan, China coinciding with the lockdown of the city, as the epicentre of the Covid19 outbreak.
With countries like France, Italy and UK on mass quarantine, Nitrogen Oxide levels have now fallen on a global scale.
Reduction in private vehicles, shutdown of factories, ban on construction has positively contributed to the reduced air pollutants and the sudden surge in good air quality. However, the air quality continues to suffer due to other contributing factors like landfills, waste to energy plants, thermal power plants which still bear on the pollution load, said Kanchi Kohli, researcher at Centre for Policy Research.
As the Covid 19 crisis persists, air pollution may further reduce but the long term issue of climate change is here to stay. When the governments try to rebuild their economy after this crisis, it is likely that the need to maintain good air quality will take a backseat.
This is because critics are weary of the economic impacts of this pandemic but unaware of the fact that climate change is now a reality.
The increased carbon emissions, large scale deforestation and high global warming has not only left us grappling for clean air but also put our wildlife and the entire ecosystem in jeopardy.
Since humans began retreating from public spaces in fear of coronavirus, not only have pollution levels drastically fallen but nature is now reclaiming its space.
Dolphins have returned to Italy’s coasts thanks to the missing crew ships, Egyptian geese were spotted crossing the tarmac and Otters were roaming freely in Singapore’s empty parks.
This complete clampdown has made possible for these animals to reclaim their space on this planet. It has also drastically reduced the burden of high pollution levels on the environment
Let’s treat the covid 19 as a wakeup call. We must work towards a sustainable future, where mankind and wildlife coexist in a pollution free, green planet.
In fact we can also consider voluntary lockdowns after the pandemic subsides as an effective measure to restore and revive our ailing ecosystems. The feasibility of this plan of course has to be looked into considering the economic setbacks.