Greenhouse gas emissions have decreased significantly as a result of the global response to the pandemic, but this is only a temporary drop and will not significantly affect the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
It is essential to make investments that help with development, lessen emissions, and build resilience during and after the pandemic. Reducing air pollution and enhancing public transportation, restoring mangroves, expanding forests, and building or retrofitting structures to make them more energy efficient are just a few of these initiatives.
Due to changes in temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide, and cloud cover, climate change has an impact on the world's natural habitats and ecosystems. Among the many effects that can result from these shifts is a change in the rate at which vegetation grows, such as trees and plants.
Long-term effects on global temperature and air quality are likely a result of the pandemic's influence on travel and work patterns, which in turn affects greenhouse gas levels. In addition, it has led to a rise in the manufacturing of single-use plastics, which degrade into microplastic (or neoplastic) and can have negative effects on both land and sea environments.
Significant climate disruption will still be experienced by Earth even if the world miraculously stops all carbon emissions tomorrow. Therefore, nations must move swiftly to reduce emissions and avert the worst impacts while also preparing for a more volatile climate.
Gases and particles released into the air make up what is known as air pollution. Some examples of this sort of pollution are dust and spores, as well as chemicals from factories and cars, smoke from forest and grassland fires, and sand.
Human activities like mining, construction, transportation, industrial work, and agriculture are the most common causes of air pollution. However, air pollution can also be caused by natural processes like volcanic eruptions and wildfires.
Oftentimes, the pollutants are hazardous to both human health and the environment. They increase the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses like asthma. They also pose a threat to our nervous systems, kidneys, and immune systems. Many studies have linked exposure to these air pollutants with fetal malformations.
In many ways, water is being impacted by climate change. This includes shifts in weather, melting ice sheets, rising sea levels, and more. The global circulation of water in the atmosphere and the ground can also affect water supplies and make it more difficult for people to access safe water.
Increased evaporation due to warming temperatures can exacerbate drought conditions in some regions. This may cause problems for farms, making it harder to plant and harvest crops.
Cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea are all linked to a lack of clean water, and rising temperatures can make these conditions worse. These illnesses can lead to a wide range of symptoms and even death in young people.
Almost 450 million kids around the world are at risk of not having access to clean drinking water. Complete water systems can be wiped out or contaminated during disasters, which can then lead to epidemics.
The global food supply chain has been severely disrupted by the pandemic. As a result of its upheaval, food commodity prices rose, and child hunger and malnutrition worsened.
A recent survey found that one-third of Americans reported that the pandemic had an impact on their ability to purchase food for their families. About half of the respondents said they had reduced their consumption, switched brands, or enrolled in a government assistance program like SNAP.
And more and more people are either stocking up on food they already have at home or making fewer trips to the grocery store. Some people are resorting to food delivery services or doing their shopping online.
In spite of the widespread devastation that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused, it has served to focus attention on the issue of climate change. How this will play into public worries about climate issues and views on climate policies is, however, anyone's guess. We need answers to these questions because they will tell us how best to lessen the effects of future pandemics. To do this, we must first acknowledge the interconnected nature of these problems.