Throughout the pandemic, one of the major questions has been whether or not the effects of COVID-19 have helped the environment, and if so, how? As industries, transportation networks and factories have shut down, carbon emissions* have shown a sudden drop. In New York City levels of pollution have dropped 50% since the pandemic began. In China, emissions dropped 25% along with coal usage which has dropped 40% at China’s six largest factories. NO 2 (nitrogen dioxide) emissions have slowly begun to decrease over Italy, Spain, and the UK. It is important to look at why these emissions have dropped to know for future reference regarding the environment. Transportation makes up 23% of global carbon emissions. This is not the first time that the environment has benefited from an epidemic, however. The Black Death in Europe, in the 14th Century, along with the smallpox outbreak, in the 16th Century, both left marks on CO 2 levels. These changes, however, were a result of the high death toll. Regions that were completely wiped out from these diseases were often abandoned, ultimately growing wild and natural, ridding them of high levels of CO 2. At that time, during the height of industrial activity, a sudden pause was taken due to these deadly diseases, thereby leading to a decrease in emissions. Today, industrial activity makes up 18.4% of all global anthropogenic emissions. Interestingly, the financial crash of 2008-09 led to an emissions drop by 1.3%, but it rose again in 2010 leading to an all-time high. Overall, 2020 could see a drop in global emissions of 0.3% as a result of COVID-19.
