Coronavirus lockdown curbs pollution

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic it looks like that mother nature is the only one benefiting from it as levels of air pollutants and warming gases over some cities and regions are showing significant drops.

Researchers in New York showed carbon monoxide mainly from cars had been reduced by nearly 50% compared with last year. Emissions of the planet-heating gas CO2 have also fallen drastically.

-NASA

A 30-year analysis of 652 cities in 24 countries and regions across six continents found that increases in air pollution were linked to increases in related deaths: The higher the levels of pollution, the faster people die.

While it is early days, data collected in New York this week suggests that instructions to curb unnecessary travel are having a significant impact.

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As a result, large fish, dolphins and swans have reclaimed the canals and ports in tourists’ absence.

 

✅ Acqua pulita a #Venezia con i pesci che si tornano a vedere
✅ Un cigno sul Naviglio a #Milano
✅ un delfino nel porto di #Cagliari

Tornare a inquinare sarebbe un delitto: sfruttiamo questa scia per ripensare a come sviluppare la società in armonia con la natura pic.twitter.com/dH0PLqm4Q1

— Roberto Dupplicato (@duppli) March 16, 2020

Both China and Northern Italy have also recorded significant falls in nitrogen dioxide, which is related to reduced car journeys and industrial activity. The gas is both a serious air pollutant and a powerful warming chemical.