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Reilly Kropf
Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102-21
3/02/2021

Research Dossier: Post-COVID-19 Environmental Sustainability

Dossier Introduction

Throughout existence, humans have witnessed Earth’s ecosystems demonstrate

basic growth characteristics followed by evidence of decay. More importantly,
however, signs of eventual, recovery from said damage remain consistent in
nature. In previous years, numerous causes of these damages had been unknown;
their effects on our surrounding atmosphere had been merely overlooked. Today,
society has a clearer idea on what we can do as a community to ensure Earth’s
wellbeing to the best of our ability.

The general population has been taught and instructed to protect the environment.
A critical example of this includes using alternative, renewable resources so that
we may conserve our planet’s limited, nonrenewable resources, such as fossil
fuels. As this particular project concerns COVID-19, I have decided to research
potential representations of various countries’ ‘green’ economies following the
current global pandemic, including the United States. One determining factor that
led to my utilization of this topic is the fact that my major immensely concerns our
surroundings; I am studying to eventually become an environmental engineer. I
genuinely find it fascinating that there is such a prominent relationship between
COVID-19 and its effect on the global economy.

An additional factor that has interested the topic of what a ‘green’ economy
consists of is how recognized environmental-friendly energy sources and methods
have become throughout society, regardless of previous hardships encountered.
The field research I am gathering is going to consist of exploring various online
resources and gathering multiple perspectives on whether or not the effects of the
pandemic will have helped or hurt the environment and its ecosystems. Upon my
comprehension of each piece of evidence I find online, I will be provided with a
second perspective, my own, on numerous ways in which a sustainable or
unsustainable lifestyle is promoted following COVID-19. I hope to make a bigger
impact on my intended audience this way by providing additional information on
the topic. These online
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articles will ultimately serve as the manner in which I can collect my sample’s
predictions on what a post-COVID-19 world would resemble.

In my research process thus far, I have considered a couple of techniques in which

I will acquire my data. Referring back to my previous mention of said ‘articles’ in
the previous paragraph, I would most likely strive to consult online articles with
the intention of answering the following question: “What are the components of a
post-COVID-19 environment?” I have done some thinking about it and have
concluded that I will most likely be gathering statistical evidence gathered from
online resources, and then using my acquired data to support my overall argument.
The primary reason for this approach is to attract the attention of many
academically engaged, resourceful college students, like myself, toward my means
of collecting precise, descriptive data.

Research Proposal

Subject: Research Proposal: Interpreting the effects of and recovering from the
COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the environment

Topic description: The topic that I have decided to construct my research upon
regards the components of a ‘green’ global economy following the presence of
COVID-19 across the planet. The majority of the population tends to
underestimate the effects that periods of major to minor economic depression, such
as this current pandemic, have on our environment along with its ecosystems. The
shift to work-from-home could potentially house long-term environmental benefits.
For example, before COVID-19, the average person might have spent seven to
eight hours working in his or her office. Normally, funding for air conditioning,
electronic lights, and power for one’s technological devices is typically taken care
of by said institution or workplace. Now that consumers are working from home as
of today, they are responsible for those previously covered expenses. As a result,
the general population should be more inclined to lower those particular costs, and
in turn, exhibit increasingly environmental-friendly behavior. I aim to focus on two
significant aspects that relate to my overall topic. These subjects include various
interpretations of the pandemic’s effect on the environment, as well as researching
fluctuations in certain eco-friendly tools and gadgets during COVID-19.
Documentation Style: I will be using MLA formatting on this particular research
project; it allows audiences to have a common template to draw from. Its
guidelines are critical as they promote consistency within a particular discipline.
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Purpose: My major is environmental engineering; a ‘green’ planet has always

been a dream of mine as one of my primary goals in life is to assert a solution for
repairing the damages done by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and devising an
intricate plan to ensure it never again will reach its current immensity. The topic I
have selected for this research project not only correlates with my academic major,
but additionally, with my genuine interests surrounding Earth and its ecosystems.
My focus on interpreting the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on our global
environment will increase my survey participants’ and I’s knowledge of how a
‘green’ environment may look and how it can be further maintained for our
planet’s wellbeing.

Intended audience: The audience that I attend to address with my research is not
limited to a confined group of individuals, such as my classmates in my ENC1102
class. In fact, my intended audience is however many people are willing to analyze
my final research paper. I hope that during my online research process, information
and data from my sources will be passed on from my English class to their various
peers; as a result, I strive to encourage increasing environmental-friendly
behaviors.

Research Question / Preliminary Thesis / Argument: What are the components

of a post-COVID-19 environment?

Types of research areas: Information and statistical evidence derived from online
articles utilized in an attempt to interpret future environmental effects resulting
from the onset of COVID-19.

Keywords: Eco-friendly, Sustainability, Environmental ecosystems

Research Schedule:

Task Due Date

Independent Research (Student Union) February 18, 2021
Trigonometry Test February 22, 2021
Independent Research (Student Union) February 23, 2021
Digital Paper Trail Due February 24, 2021
Independent Research (Student Union) March 1, 2021
Research Dossier Draft March 3, 2021

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Peer Review Workshop March 8, 2021

Rhetorical Analysis March 10, 2021
Independent Research (Student Union) March 12, 2021
Chemistry Midterm March 15, 2021
Rhetorical Analysis March 17, 2021
Peer Review Workshop March 29, 2021
Research Paper Draft April 5, 2021
Workshop Research Paper April 19, 2021

Final Research Paper April 26, 2021

E-Portfolio Due April 29, 2021

Annotated Bibliography

Mock, Brentin. Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 24 Mar. 2020, 5:56PM,

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/green-stimulus-plan-for-a-
post-covid-19-economy.
Content: This source will help me in the sense that it explains how the
COVID-19 pandemic does not necessarily technically stands as an
opportunity to permanently fix the economy and our planet itself.
Author: The author is an editor and writer for CityLab in Pittsburgh. His
discipline focuses on issues of racial equity, economic inequities, and
environment and climate justices.
BEAM: There is not much bias in this article. However, the research
performed indicates a perspective for the COVID-19 acting as an opportunity
to fix the economy. Additionally, this particular group of U.S. economists,
academics, and policymakers say the current global pandemic stands as a
chance to repair the planet—for the long term.

Gwartney, James. “The Economy after COVID-19.” AIER, 7 July 2020,

www.aier.org/article/the-economy-after-covid-19/.
Content: This source will help me with my research in the sense that it
compares and contrasts life after The Great Depression and World War II
with what a ‘green’ economy would look like after COVID-19.
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Author: The author is a professor of economics and policy sciences at Florida
State University. His work surrounds numerous economic issues including
taxation, labor policy, and the economic analysis of government.
BEAM: Although it is undeniably certain that life will not be the same after
COVID-19, this article goes in depth to explain some of the background and
evidence generated from this claim. There is some bias as the author mentions that
the government’s debt will have the greatest impact on the recovery of society.

Ivanova, Irina. “What the ‘Green’ Economy Looks like after the Coronavirus
Pandemic.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 12 Jan. 2021,
www.cbsnews.com/news/green-economy-gadgets-ces/.
Content: This article talks about the annual Consumer Electronics Show.
Discussion of this particular show relates to my topic and will help me in the
sense that it suggests that COVID-19 places self-reliance and environmental
sustainability front and center.
Author: The author is a multimedia journalist and editor working outside
New York. Her discipline focuses on economics, economic justice, housing,
real estate, work and labor law, consumer privacy, retail, and personal
finance.
BEAM: There is a bias for favoring solar-related energy in this article.
I noticed that they mention several different solar-energy companies; for
example, they discuss how one particular solar-heated pool company was
extremely pleased to see their annual profits nearly double. This is obviously
due to the increasing amount of time that people are spending outside.

Fedunik-Hofman, Larissa. “What Impact Will COVID-19 Have on the

Environment?” Curious, 15 July 2020,
www.science.org.au/curious/earthenvironment/what-impact-will-covid-19-
have-environment.
Content: This article focuses on the effect of COVID-19 on air pollution. It
states that the overall air pollution levels have significantly decreased during
the current global pandemic. This is most likely due to the majority of people
experiencing shutdowns and being forced to work inside their own homes.
Author: The author is a communications officer who attends the Australian
Academy of Science. This specific work of hers was reviewed by Associate
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Professor Donna Green, an expert working in climate change research and

studying at the University of New South Wales.
BEAM: There is some potential bias to this article. This is due to the fact that
the author believes that society should approach our current environmental
crisis with the same exact urgency as we have the COVID-19 crisis. This is
what society must do in order to lessen the effects of global warming to the
best of our ability, according to this particular article.

Bates, Sofie. “Environmental Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, as

Observed from Space.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 8 Dec. 2020,
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201208162957.htm.
Content: This article primarily emphasizes the mannerisms in which COVID-
19 has affected the way society works and lives, as numerous safety and
health restrictions have kept the majority of the population stuck at home. For
example, deforestation rates are changing in certain places, and water quality
is improving. Author: The author is an official writer and editor for NASA.
Her article was originally written on the basis of materials provided by the
Goddard Space Flight Center.
BEAM: I assume that there is bias in this article. The data collections
mentioned are all only observable and were recorded from outer space. The
U.S. Geological Survey, ESA, the European Space Agency, and additionally,
NASA argue that resulting changes in our general behavior from the
pandemic have critically impacted the environment already in an intensive
number of ways.

Gardiner, Beth. “Why COVID-19 Will End up Harming the Environment.”

Science, National Geographic, 10 Feb. 2021,
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/why-covid-19-will-end-up-
harming-the-environment.
Content: This article discusses the hurtful impacts that COVID-19 is
extremely likely to have on the environment. Its passages suggest that
although the air has been cleaner as a result of global quarantining, an
increasingly polluted future is simply around the corner.
Author: The author is an American journalist based in London with
experience in the environment, sustainability, and health. Her research article
regarding the

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environmental effects of the COVID-19 had been for National Geographic.

BEAM: There is undeniably bias present in this article. This is due to the fact
that the conclusion that the decrease in air pollution due to COVID-19 will
only be temporary is made due to comparing our current situation to the
financial crisis of 2007. During this tragedy, overall emissions dropped, but
then bounced back after the economy was able to recover.

Agravante, Mariecor. “COVID-19 and Its Effects on the Environment.”

Inhabitat Green Design Innovation Architecture Green Building,
inhabitat.com/covid-19-and-its-effects-on-the-environment/.
Content: This article talks about how social distancing measures are having
an impact on the environment and its ecosystems. Research is conducted to
show that both the restoration and the preservation of environmental quality is
experiencing benefits as COVID-19 persists.
Author: The author is a freelance writer and ghostwriter for the publisher
Inhabitat. In addition to this, she has also conducted her research with
Scientific America, as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association.
BEAM: There is not much bias from this article. This is because it simply
centers around the statement that social distancing is improving air quality.
However, the potential bias could come from the author’s argument that
reductions in aircraft activity have an extremely low environmental benefit as
compared to atmospheric damages caused by humans’ usage of motor
vehicles.

Hamwey, Robert. “Environmental Impacts of Coronavirus Crisis, Challenges

Ahead.” UNCTAD, 20 Apr. 2020, unctad.org/news/environmental-impacts-
coronavirus-crisis-challenges-ahead.
Content: This article works with addressing various environmental impacts
of the coronavirus. They sufficiently support their claim with multiple forms
of statistical evidence, including the fact that scheduled flights and road traffic
have been reduced by nearly sixty to ninety percent, depending on the region.
Author: The author works as a UNCTAD economic affairs officer. His
previous work involves the study of spectrophotometric observations of
airglow emissions,

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which are used to derive certain intensities and rotational temperatures.

BEAM: There seems to be bias toward benefitting ecosystems. This is due to
the fact that the author’s interest centers around ecosystems as he wants to
observe their success. There is also a significantly emphasis present in the
article on the dangers that these environmental ecosystems face due to the
crisis known as COVID-19.

Henriques, Martha. “Will Covid-19 Have a Lasting Impact on the

Environment?” BBC Future, BBC, www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-
covid-19-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-environment.
Content: This article involves the study of reductions in emissions due to the
environmental impacts of the coronavirus. The research is conducted as they
present multiple quantitative forms of data to explain how the decrease in
human activity benefits the planet’s atmosphere.
Author: The author works as an environmental journalist; she is an editor of
the environmental solutions feature section of BBC Future at BBC Global
News, Future Planet. She works with freelancers throughout the world to find
global environmental stories told by local inhabiting citizens.
BEAM: The research article indicates the perspective of the effects of climate
change due to COVID-19 on the economy. Although I did not observe any
particular bias, the source ultimately displays a viewpoint of the benefits of
reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Patel, Kasha. “Earth Matters - How the Coronavirus Is (and Is Not) Affecting
the Environment.” NASA, NASA, 5 Mar. 2020,
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/earthmatters/2020/03/05/how-the-
coronavirus-is-and-is-not-affecting-the-environment/.
Content: This article talks about people changing their everyday routines due
to COVID-19 having an immense effect on the atmosphere and overall global
environment. However, as there has been certain miscommunications, they
conduct satellite research in order to explain how the current pandemic has
and has not affected China’s global environment. Additionally, they construct
visual charts with statistics that measure China’s daily coal consumption
before and during COVID-19.
Author: The author is an American science writer and digital storyteller for
the NASA Earth Observatory. She has worked with NASA to both analyze
and summarize satellite findings regarding the environmental consequences
posed by the coronavirus.

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BEAM: There is a bit of potential bias in this article. The data collections
mentioned are all only observable and were recorded from outer space, so it
can be quite difficult for one to imagine and interpret to that extent of
magnitude.

Kienapple Bronwyn Kienapple is the Content Marketing Lead at Venngage.

Her writing on design and business communications has been published in
Foundr, Bronwyn, and. “Coronavirus's Impact on the Environment
[Infographic].” Venngage, 14 June 2020, venngage.com/blog/coronavirus-
impact-on-environment-infographic/.
Content: This article provides exclusive infographics regarding the
coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the environment. For example, it displays
evidence of reduction in carbon emissions across the globe, as well as an
increase in waste production in the United States, China, and Italy. Further
research is conducted to summarize COVID-19’s effect on wildlife, wildlife
habitats, and specific energy source availability.
Author: The author is the Content Marketing Lead at Venngage. Her research
on the environment and business communications has been published by
several marketers. Additionally, she has designed her own courses and
teaching materials as an instructor.
BEAM: This article contains an argument focusing on diminishing
false reports involving animals in urban areas as supposedly new inhabitants
due to environmental effects of COVID-19. According to the article, these
viral social media posts are in fact, fake news; these animals have already
been inhabiting said urban areas for years.

Muggah, Robert. “Lockdowns Have Been Amazing for the Environment, but
COVID-19 Won't Heal the Planet.” Foreign Policy, 21 Aug. 2020,
foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/21/pandemic-lockdowns-climate-environment/.
Content: The article talks discusses the relatively cleaner air quality in China,
India, and parts of Europe due to the environmental effects of the COVID-19
pandemic. Research is conducted while detecting reduced greenhouse gas
emissions, as well as steep declines in vehicular traffic.
Author: The author is a political scientist, urbanist, and security expert. He is
the co-founder of The SecDev group, where he is recognized for his work on
arms control, urbanization, crime prevention, migration, and the overall
digital economy.
BEAM: There is a bias in favor of slowed globalization due to the economic

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effects caused by the coronavirus. This is because decrease in the sufficiency

of globalization is kinder toward environmental wellbeing, specifically the
conditions in which the author seems to favor.