Coronavirus may be wreaking havoc but there’s at least one beneficiary from our enforced inactivity – the environment.
Air pollution has fallen significantly. According to the Experimental Aircraft Association, in Milan during the past four weeks the concentration of nitrogen dioxide has dropped by 24%. In Rome the fall is between 26% and 35%. Similar trends can be seen throughout Europe wherever lock down measures have been enforced. In New York air pollution is down 50%. Beyond air pollution, the water in the canals in Venice is the cleanest it has been in modern history. Previously the most polluted city in the world, Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, has climbed to No 23 on the list. Its population can now breathe more easily – literally.
We should all take the opportunity to reduce our own levels of toxicity. Now that we can’t go out, a period of prolonged introspection could be extremely productive, as long as we use it to de-clutter and re-connect.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Trust me.
“Si_o_Seh Bridge (Esfahan, Iran)” by Sasha India is licensed under CC BY
