How The Pandemic Impacts the Environment Differently Than We Think
Tara Van Hoorn is an intern with the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute and majors in Conservation Resource Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
Many things are at risk while the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, including our oceans and our greater environment. The crisis continues to devastate populations around the world and forces many people to stay inside their homes. With no end in sight, this disaster impacts nearly every aspect of our lives.
Even opportunities for exploitation are arising amidst the pandemic. The Trump administration has loosened the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, allowing large industries to pollute at whatever levels they please during the crisis. There will be no penalties for companies polluting more than the usual legal amount, coined a “license to pollute” by the head of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental organization with which the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute often cooperates.
As the entire world struggles during this pandemic, these relaxed environmental regulations will have immediate and long-term effects on vulnerable populations and global ecosystems. Many believe that the reduced levels of travel (both by air and car) have resulted in declining greenhouse gas emissions, but given the new lack of monitoring and consequences, this may not be the case.
With industries allowed to pollute as much as they like, the ocean could receive much of the impact as it absorbs nearly 30% of all anthropogenic carbon emissions. This could worsen the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, causing rising sea levels, warming water temperatures, and further ocean acidification. Similarly, these changes in policy may expose marine communities to higher levels of oil pollution, industrial waste and toxins, and increased levels of plastic disposal into the water.
Not only do these changes raise issues of environmental degradation but also of environmental justice. Marginalized communities, who have often been targeted to house these big polluters like oil refineries, are put at higher risk from the raised levels of pollution. As COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, increased air pollution may cause respiratory issues in these exposed populations, putting them at higher risk of infection with the virus. A recent study found that areas with more air pollution are experiencing higher death rates from the coronavirus, which could be worsened by a lack of regulations. Although some smog is clearing and making cities appear cleaner, these looser rules could be detrimental to both humans and the planet in the long-term.
With more people staying at home and fewer vehicles on the road, the large industries will be the deciding factors in how pollution levels will change.
Amidst this chaos, hope still resides. With many of us staying at home, we may find ourselves with more free time on our hands, which could be devoted to making more sustainable impacts on our planet during this time of crisis. Here are some tips for how you can make sustainable choices and changes and use your time wisely:
- Purchase and prepare food from your local grocery store.
- Buy take-out from local ocean-friendly/sustainable restaurants that refuse plastic, styrofoam, and harmful fishing practices. This will support local businesses while encouraging sustainable restaurant practices in your community. Numerous organizations, like the Surfrider Foundation, have websites to find which of your local restaurants are making these sustainable choices, linked here.
- While taking a walk around your neighborhood, pick up trash you see on your street, trail or beach while practicing social distancing and wearing gloves and a mask. Cleaning up this garbage helps reduce the flow of trash entering the ocean and the bodies of marine mammals while giving you some grounding time outside.
- Support small online businesses that practice sustainable packaging and shipping methods to help the small businesses stay afloat during this economic downfall. When ordering online, try to avoid large polluting corporations that overuse plastic and quick transportation, like Amazon. If you don’t need your items immediately, choose the “no-rush” shipping option so the companies can send out fewer vehicles and reduce their carbon footprint.
- Make efforts to reduce your water and electricity use while staying inside by opting for more natural lighting, shorter showers, and less time on electronics.
- Unplug electronics, appliances, and chargers that you are not using (toaster, phone charger, night light, etc.). When electric appliances and chargers are plugged in, they still use energy even when the devices are turned off.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact your Representative in Congress and your two Senators. Urge them to halt the Trump Administration’s establishment of rules that weaken environmental protections. Gutting environmental laws should NOT be allowed under any circumstances, including a pandemic.
Below are links to the websites of members of the House of Representatives and Senators. Find your Representative and two Senators and go to their websites. Each website will have a link to “CONTACT”. Usually, this will take you to a page where the Congress member has an online form or an email address. You can send your concerns directly to the office. Thank you for your support!
Members of House of Representatives Websites
Another important way to help during this crisis is to contribute to nonprofit organizations fighting for environmental protection. Please donate to the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute online to help safeguard whales, dolphins, and their ocean habitats. Thank you for your support!
