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,
No comments:
Post a Comment