Tuesday 24 March 2020

Climate change and the unlikely silver lining of Coronavirus

Climate change and the unlikely silver lining of Coronavirus

Coronavirus has an unlikely silver lining, in the form of improved environmental health.

That's the suggestion from Professor Phil Hart, Director of Energy and Power at Cranfield University. who spoke to future Net Zero about the positive effects the global pandemic was likely to have in helping drive down emissions in the short term and the role it could potentially play in affecting long-term behaviour changes.

He suggested in immediate environmental terms, the virus is bizarrely likely to do "a lot of good" by grounding planes, stopping commuting and reducing energy demand from offices, areas which are typically seen as 'big polluters'.

He added the effects will likely be similar to 9/11, which saw "a dramatic impact on overall average temperatures" as normal life was temporarily paused - similarly, he predicts in a "wild kind of way", Coronavirus will also be good for the planet.

However, Professor Hart acknowledged the danger of people catching up on things they have missed once day-to-day life get back to normal, such as rebooking extra holidays, visiting relatives they have not seen in a while and in doing so, overshooting previous levels of emissions.

Despite this, he predicted 2020's overall emissions will be signficantly down - watch the video to find out more.

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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