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Reilly Kropf

Professor Guenzel

ENC1102-21

19 April 2021

COVID-19 on the Environment

The general population has been taught and instructed to protect planet Earth. Yet,

environmental injustice is like a toxic fog lingering over society, making its inhabitants more

susceptible to potential threats. We as a community are primarily responsible for this ‘cloud’ of

wrongdoing as the human race alone contributes massively to the underlying health conditions

that catalyze its deadliness. Universal disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had

numerous effects on the environment and its climate. For example, the massive global reduction

in human activity and planned travel, in general, has caused many regions to experience

considerable declines in both water and air pollution levels. Officials and researchers have

additionally called for biodiversity protections to form part of COVID-19 recovery techniques.

Other positive effects include governance-system-controlled investments towards a sustainable

energy movement as well as alternative goals related to fields of environmental protection. In

essence, given that environmental crisis has been brewing for nearly hundreds of years, people

are ultimately curious as to how what seems to be 'normal' to society, bearing through this

pandemic, will influence the environment, its ecosystems, and the Earth’s climate.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic officially began, scientists argued that any specific

decline in economic activity would decrease global warming, allowing the global environment to

gradually thrive and flourish without human threats nor interferences. The current decrease in
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this activity type would undeniably be due to multiple social distancing practices and quarantines

forced upon society. Specifically for this research assignment, I have decided to both summarize

and analyze various representations of three countries’ environmental conditions resulting from

the current global pandemic. The countries that I have selected to study consist of the United

States, China, and Germany. I have conclusively gathered data on both the positives and the

negatives that COVID-19 has on each of my selected countries’ global environment. One

determining factor that led to my utilization of this particular topic is the fact that my college

major here at the University of Central Florida immensely concerns our general surroundings

and overall global environment overall. I am studying to eventually become an environmental

engineer and most likely focus on studying either solid waste or water quality. Essentially, I

genuinely find it fascinating that there is such a prominent relationship between COVID-19 and

its effect on the global economy, environment, and the climate. An additional factor that has

interested me in the field of this topic is how recognized and prominent many environmental-

friendly energy sources, and methods, and intricate practices have become throughout society,

regardless of previous hardships encountered. The research I am gathering consists of analyzing

multiple online resources and articles consisting of the virus’ positive and negative effects on the

global environments of the USA, China, and Germany. The overall effects of the current

pandemic will have helped or hurt the environment and its ecosystems. Upon completion of my

comprehension of each resource I used for this project, I was able to understand just how much

of an effect worldwide reduced economic activity has on the intricate nourishment of the global

environment. Each resource that I was able to use genuinely provides a second perspective on

numerous ways in which both a sustainable and unsustainable lifestyle may be promoted in
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Germany, China, and the United States following COVID-19. I hope to make a bigger statement

in this research project this way by providing impactful information on the topic I have selected.

Information derived from these Internet articles ultimately serve as the manner in which I could

collected my data and statistical findings on what a post-COVID-19 world resembles in this

given three countries and whether the pandemic can serve as the moral emergence of maintaining

our planet’s wellbeing. My research topic I had decided to construct my findings upon regards

the environmental components following the presence of COVID-19 across Germany, China,

and the United States. 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 aimed to focus on three significant aspects that relate to my

overall topic. These subjects include various interpretations of the pandemic’s effect on the

environment in the United States, as well as on the global environments within Germany and

China. For example, I will be comparing and discussing fluctuations in these countries’ various

fossil fuel emissions along with those in areas of waste, wildlife, and energy due to the

pandemic.
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In my research process thus far, I have acquired my data and vital observations in a

method that can ultimately be summarized by a handful of Internet observations. Referring back

to my previous mention of said ‘articles’ in the previous paragraph, I strived to look for answers

and information relating to the following questions in my selected online resources: “What does

a post-COVID global environment look like in the United States? What about in Germany and in

China?” When compared to environmental effects, for example, it is relatively simple to

calculate certain economic effects produced by the pandemic. In essence, one can accomplish

this by viewing quantitative information derived from the internet, books, and various peers.

Some insight I used in gathering data and perspective on my chosen topic appears on “Will

COVID-19 have a lasting effect on the environment?”, an article written by Martha Henriques.

This particular author has a background in video editing for the BBC channel, and her work

enabled me to be further prepared for the remainder of this research project, including any new

material or challenges it potentially presents. The author’s main claim includes the idea that

these reduced global emissions will only be temporary. Although the reduced global emissions

resulting from the coronavirus are most likely temporary, there are other ways in which the

pandemic could have a longer-term impact on environmental sustainability. For example,

COP26, one of the most significant climate change events, is expected to attract a record-

breaking crowd this upcoming November. Social science research suggests that interventions,

such as the emergence of environmental awareness, are always more effective if they occur

during eras of significant change.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had mixed effects on the environment in the United States.

For instance, “1.5% of the total power in the U.S. is consumed by data centers annually”
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(Henriques). This being said, Broadband demand has risen dramatically thanks to online

conferencing, schooling, and streaming videos, but not all experts agree it’s energy intensive.

Some experts in the United States argue that big data, like the kind that picks what products to

reveal to an individual on a website, requires more energy. However, there is some debate

regarding environmental effects of COVID-19 in the United States in the area of wildlife. “False

reports claimed that wild turkeys were now in Oakland, CA, but they’ve already been roaming

the city for years” (Kienapple). Furthermore, In New York, researchers and certified officials

have recorded a “50% overall decrease in carbon monoxide emissions” (Kienapple). In Seattle,

“[a] 41% decrease in peak traffic congestion has been detected” (Kienapple). These declines

have plunged here in the USA undeniably due to the rapid reduction in planned travel and

economic activity. Although emissions are likely to go back up once the pandemic has ended,

“[t]he rise of certain pre-existing trends, such as remote work, have accelerated, and continuing

these practices as a society promises to have a lasting effect on cutting carbon emissions” (Patel).

Additionally, for my research project, I have been collecting numerous pieces of

information regarding the environmental effects on China that are taking place due to the

COVID-19 pandemic. It is already known that many “-scientists tend to have witnessed huge

reductions in air pollution” (Georgiou). This particular statement is especially true to those

regions struggling with overpopulation, such as China, for instance. In fact, carbon emissions in

China in total fell by 25%” (Kienapple). This immense improvement in the country’s overall air

quality this year truly housed the potential to save the lives of four thousand young children and

toddlers under five years of age. On the contrary, due to excessive disposable mask use and

increased hospitalization within this past year, “[m]edical waste in China quadrupled to 200 tons
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per day” (Kienapple). A relatively recent analysis of China’s economy and energy sector by the

Oxford Institution for Energy Studies predicts: “[T]he focus on COVID-19 has slowed progress

on other policy priorities including environmental policies and liberalization, and a strong fossil

fossil-fuel heavy stimulus would further delay them” (Geman). The current halt on planned

travelling and human economic activity has led to steep declines in China’s emissions; how

much they will bounce back, however, is considerably unclear as of this moment in time.

Finally, a third country whose environmental conditions were significantly altered by the

COVID-19 pandemic is Germany. At this point in the conduction of my research, I have

concluded that many countries’ reductions in air and water pollution due to atmospheric effects

of COVID-19 are temporary. The conditions of the global environment in the USA, China, and

Germany will most likely return to their normal rates once the pandemic subsides. Nevertheless,

with coal power collapsing, air travel down, and green power accounting for fifty percent of the

national grid, Germany hit its 2020 climate targets. In 2007, under Chancellor Angela Merkel’s

leadership, the German government “-pledged 40% carbon emissions cut by 2020” (Rueter).

“[L]ast year’s carbon emissions were down by 42.3% over 1990 levels, meaning the country has

clearly achieved its stated goal; Germany emitted 722 million tons of CO2 last year, 82 million

tons less than in 2019, which amounts to a decrease of 10%” (Rueter). It is estimated that at least

two thirds of this drastic reduction can be attributed to effects produced by the coronavirus

pandemic. Without this crisis, the drop would have most likely been closer to twenty-five million

tons. As a result, Germany would have only reduced their carbon emissions by thirty eight

percent rather than forty percent if it weren’t for the occurrence of COVID-19. “Sales of diesel

and gasoline for cars and trucks fell by 9%” (Bell). Additionally, Germany’s partial collapse of
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its aviation sector has also had a positive effect on the country’s global environment. However,

as the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow at the end of the year has been

cancelled amid COVID-19, “Germany need[s] to put action behind its promises for

environmental protection and also face staunch opposition to climate protection measures”

(Smee).

In conclusion, there seems to be some form of widespread agreement the scientific and in

my local community that the climate is shifting and has likely received contributions from humans

in the form of increased carbon emissions. Nevertheless, atmospheric conditions in the United

States, China, and Germany today have been reduced due to the majority of the population staying

indoors during COVID-19. All three countries have experienced temporary halts to both planned

travel and many types of human economic activity. The work-from-home trend has allowed

citizens in these countries to be more mindful about how much electricity used in the house since

most offices typically providing complimentary power are closed down. In conclusion, society

staying cooped up inside their homes and is not a practical nor permanent solution to the current

environmental crisis. There is definitely a more collective approach to bettering Earth’s global

environment in the long haul.

Works Cited

Bell, Catherine. “How Does COVID-19 Impact the Environment?” BDO, BDO Global, 6 Jan.

2021, www.bdo.global/en-gb/insights/global-industries/natural-resources/how-does-covid-

19-impact-the-environment.
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Geman, Ben. “The Environmental Impact of China's Coronavirus Shutdown.” Axios, 18 Mar.

2020, www.axios.com/coronavirus-china-carbon-emissions-3453d9a1-1ae9-4789-8a41-

3ed257946dbd.html.

Georgiou , Aristos, et al. “Coronavirus Is Having a Major Impact on the Environment, with

Reduced CO2, Better Air Quality and Animals Roaming City Streets.” Newsweek, 24 Mar.

2020, www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-major-impact-environment-co2-air-quality-

animals-1493812.

(www.dw.com), Gero Rueter. “The Coronavirus Effect: Germany Achieves Its 2020 Climate

Targets: DW: 04.01.2021.” DW.COM, www.dw.com/en/the-coronavirus-effect-germany-

achieves-its-2020-climate-targets/a-56126506.

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.                                              

Kienapple , Bronwyn, and About Bronwyn Kienapple. “Coronavirus's Impact on the

Environment [Infographic].” Venngage, 14 June 2020, venngage.com/blog/coronavirus-

impact-on-environment-infographic/.

Patel, Kasha. “Earth Matters - How the Coronavirus Is (and Is Not) Affecting the Environment.”

NASA, NASA, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/earthmatters/2020/03/05/how-the-

coronavirus-is-and-is-not-affecting-the-environment/.
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Smee, Jess, and Unesda. “[Opinion] Covid-19 Derails Germany's EU Presidency Climate

Focus.” EUobserver, euobserver.com/opinion/148722.

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