What are the hidden environmental impacts of the pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused irreparable damage all over the world. Loss of life, emotional trauma, and loss of people’s livelihoods will all have lasting effects, long after the Covid years have passed.

It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the environment has also been heavily impacted during this time. In the height of the pandemic, with the backdrop of global lockdowns, the environment appeared to be benefitting from the lack of human activity. However, it was widely accepted that as soon as the world went back to normal, any positive strides that had been made would be reversed – and so it has turned out.

In this post, we reflect on the environmental damage that has already been sustained, and explore the long-term effects the pandemic could potentially have on our planet.

Wildlife

With stay-at-home mandates in place, wildlife were able to roam relatively freely, without the interference of humans. This had many positive effects. Not only were fewer animals being killed on the roads and in the seas, but fewer were being taken out of the wild, with less commercial activity that took advantage of natural resources occurring.

However, these positive effects were only felt for a short period of time, and have since been far outweighed by the negatives. For instance, we have seen a reduction in conservation work during the past few years, with staff members at reserves, sanctuaries and other protected areas unable to carry out their usual duties.

What’s more, organisations working in the ecotourism industry have seen a vast decline in visitor numbers. Not only do eco tourists help to feed and care for wildlife, but their investments can be used to help sustain local environments across the planet.

Personal protective equipment

Over the past couple of years, how many times have you thrown away a face covering or protective gloves and not given it a second thought? You may think the odd mask won’t make a difference, but when you consider the sheer amount of equipment used during the pandemic, you’ll see how the impacts can soon add up. In less than a two-month period at the start of the pandemic, 748 millions items of PPE were used in UK hospitals. And, by the end of 2020, a reported 6.76 billion items had been distributed across the country.

PPE like masks, gloves, aprons and goggles have been invaluable during the pandemic, saving lives all around the world. But unfortunately, improper disposal of this equipment is causing both short and long-term effects on the environment. Any discarded items have the potential to end up in local ecosystems, where they can harm both the wildlife and the wider environment.

In the long run, PPE that hasn’t been responsibly disposed of could create breeding grounds for new diseases. Not only will this have the potential to harm animal life, but humans, too. We’re also likely to see more sewer blockages, as well as degradation of our rivers. To combat this, be sure to dispose of your PPE responsibly, and where possible, try to wear reusable face masks to reduce the amount of waste you create in the first place.