Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Case Study: Europe


By James Counsellor

The COVID-19 outbreak which led to lockdowns in many countries around the globe has resulted in less pollution. In Europe, positive impacts on the environment have happened because of many forms of pollution suddenly pausing simultaneously. Cities are now lacking the noise of cars and buses which emit CO, carbon monoxide, into the atmosphere. This has permitted climate to be affected as well as air quality: both in which can affect human health positively.

Satellite images in cities where the lockdowns remain in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus are projecting lower nitrogen dioxide levels than the average being emitted into the atmosphere. “The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) show the changing density of nitrogen dioxide, which can cause respiratory problems and cancer, like heat maps.” (Kate Abnett n.p.) Cities such as Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Milan, and Frankfurt are all places where this data can be supported. (Kate Abnett n.p.)

Cleaner air would result in people having a lesser chance of developing respiratory problems and cancer. It is under the administration of Europe governments to look into keeping people safe as well as keeping factories closed in order to keep pollution levels at an all-time low.

Statistics have shown that in Europe “the improvement in air quality over the past month of the coronavirus lockdown has led to 11,000 fewer deaths from pollution in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, a study has revealed.” (Johnathon Watts) Along with nitrogen levels down 40 percent, tiny particle matter in the air, also known as PM2.5 is down 10 percent, which has resulted in making air quality much better. These two categories every year are responsible for 470,000 deaths a year in Europe. With these statistics to support, countries should be rapidly looking for alternative ways to keep everyone safe.

Cities in Poland rank as some of the dirtiest places in Europe as a result of people being constantly choked by the constant yellow haze (smog) that engulfs the country. An example of this is a valley below Zar Mountain, in the south, where most villagers burn coal for heat during the cold winters. Around this area, nineteen million people rely on coal for heat.Besides coal, bus and train stops also run throughout the cities.

In a village near Rybnik, this place ranks as the European Union’s most polluted environment. Within the city, you can see small smoke particles within the street lights. Despite Poland being highly polluted, measures are being made to prevent it from getting worse. “The Krakow government has outlawed the use of the cheapest, most polluting coal, and by 2019, aims to ban all burning of coal and wood.” (Maciek Nabrdalik and Marc Santora n.p)

Other measures in Poland are being made as well. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki launched a movement called Stop Smog on October 14, 2018, in the city of Skawina in an attempt to make a healthier environment for those living in the country. They chose Skawina because it is one of if not the most pollution-filled places in Europe. The program is aimed to supply homes with insulation as well as replace old furnaces that still use fossil fuels. “Earlier this year, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW), the owner of the Dębieńsko coking plant in Silesia, confirmed that it will close the plant following calls to do so from local residents and a recent intervention from environmental law organization ClientEarth.” (Shakhil Shah n.p)

Being a cost-efficient plan, there is still much hope for Poland in the coming years. Air pollution causes slightly over 400,000 premature deaths each year in Europe, EEA data show. (Kate Abnett n.p) Coronavirus, despite it being a tragedy, can have some good outcomes. The world has proved that as a society, administrations around the world can create a change when it comes to air quality. Organizations worldwide can continue to push for what seems so little but can have such an immense impact on human health as well as the environment.

Despite the changes that have occurred in air quality, all the progress being made now can quickly be reversed with factories reopening. People around the world must become more aware of the situation at hand and make an effort to positively impact the globe.


Works Cited

Abnett, Kate. “Coronavirus Lockdowns Give Europe's Cities Cleaner Air.” Reuters,
Thomson Reuters, 30 Mar. 2020,

Nabrdalik, Maciek, and Marc Santora. “Smothered by Smog, Polish Cities Rank Among
Europe's Dirtiest.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Apr. 2018,

Shah, Shakhil, et al. “Poland Finally Realises It Has to Deal with Its Pollution Problem -
Emerging Europe: Intelligence, Community, News.” Emerging Europe | Intelligence,
Community, News, 17 Dec. 2019,

Watts, Jonathan. “Clean Air in Europe during Lockdown 'Leads to 11,000 Fewer
Deaths'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 30 Apr. 2020,


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