Pandemic side-effects offer glimpse of alternative future on Earth Day 2020

[FfFfFfFF 58,134]

The skies are clearing of pollution, wildlife is returning to newly clear waters, a host of flights have been scrapped and crude oil is so worthless that the industry would have to pay you to take it off their hands – a few months ago, environmentalists could only dream of such a scenario as the 50th anniversary of Earth Day hove into view.

Wednesday’s annual Earth Day event, this year largely taking place online, comes as public health restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have resulted in a sharp dip in air pollution across China, Europe and the US, with carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels heading for a record 5% annual drop.

The waters of Venice are now clear, lions lounge on roads normally frequented by safari-goers in South Africa and bears and coyotes wander around empty accommodation in Yosemite national park in California.

“This isn’t the way we would’ve wanted things to happen, God no,” said Gina McCarthy, former head of the US Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. “This is just a disaster that pointed out the underlying challenges we face. It’s not something to celebrate.”

Conservationists warn that returning the world to its pre-pandemic settings will quickly wipe out any environmental benefits of the shutdown.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/22/environment-pandemic-side-effects-earth-day-coronavirus

[Eighteen 5,430]

hm one can only hope that this world of the last month or so will come again in my lifetime (and NOT bc of a pandemic) 

[Traumatica 598]

It’s only human nature to mindless consume until nothing remains. This is but a small bump on the road to the ultimate destruction of our home planet. 

[likeitrough 5,890]

watch humans ruin it all (as per usual) when quarantine is over

[imitalian 3,163]

Dont worry guys, once this is all over they will start pollute x5 to make faster profits

[Giorno Giovanna 3,178]

34 minutes ago, Traumatica said:

It’s only human nature to mindless consume until nothing remains. This is but a small bump on the road to the ultimate destruction of our home planet. 

to be fair, animals tend to do the same. It's nature, not just human nature. 

 

see example here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_predation_on_wildlife