How has coronavirus affected the environment and society?
As the coronavirus pandemic unfolds across the globe, threatening lives and affecting the world economy, it has also had a profound impact on the environment from cleaner air and increased visibility to liberate wildlife. Scientists first noticed a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in China, where the pandemic began. This trend followed the pandemic’s spread across the world. Slowing down economic activity also drives down emissions. As countries order the closedown of schools, shops and factories, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to fall. Cleaner air and increased visibility have perhaps been the single greatest positive effect of the lockdown on the environment. In Venice, famous for its winding canals, water quality appears to have improved amid Italy’s stringiest coronavirus lockdown. Residents in the city have said waterways are benefiting from the lack of usual boat traffic bought on by hordes of tourists who visit each year.
Meanwhile, coronavirus has also had a big impact on society as a whole. For example, domestic violence. Domestic violence is rooted in power and control and tends to increase when families spend more time together like during holidays and the rules in place because of COVID-19 are having that same effect. Being stuck indoors has caused conflicts between partners to grow bigger and bigger and more frequent. In the UK, CNN reports that calls to the country’s national domestic violence helpline increased by 25% during the virus outbreak. However, the coronavirus crisis has led to a decrease in recorded crime, by as much as 20% in some areas. Offences such as burglaries are down 34% because everyone is home. West Midlands, one of Britain’s biggest forces, saw a 41% decrease in serious violent crime and a 39% decrease in knife crime during March.
