Amid the human and personal tragedies of 2020’s cornoavirus outbreak, some cheer can be found in the resurgence of nature across the globe as pollution clears while most people stay at home under lockdown. The knock-on effects of the reduction in human activity go beyond visibly less road traffic and fewer planes in the sky – the planet is expected to see its first fall in emissions since the 2008-9 financial crisis.
Some commentators believe the plummet in demand for oil could spark the beginning of the end for the industry, which if true would be a huge boon to the environment, with oil being the single biggest source of CO2 emissions globally. Others are pinning their hopes on a ramping up of genuine public and political support for environmentally friendly reforms now that people and politicians alike have seen the evidence of how nature responds to people leading cleaner lives.
But all are in agreement that the clearer skies and greater abundance of wildlife will be only short-term if governments fail to act decisively in favour of policies that support a sustainable future.
One immediate illustration in the UK of what can happen when human activity is lessened is the hoped-for recovery in bee populations – as well as butterflies, birds and bats – as wildflowers flourish on grass verges and areas of the coutryside that are no longer being mowed. Roadside verges are home to 700 species of wildflower in the UK, which have largely disappeared from other areas developed into farmland or housing estates – but even on verges they are in decline thanks to council mowing (which has now seen a hiatus due to the lockdown).
Plantlife campaign manager Kate Petty said: “The fix is startlingly straightforward. Simply cutting verges less and later will save plants, money and reduce emissions. We need to rewild ourselves and accept nature’s wonderful ‘messiness’.”
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Amid the human and personal tragedies of 2020’s cornoavirus outbreak, some cheer can be found in the resurgence of nature across the globe as pollution clears while most people stay at home under lockdown. The knock-on effects of the reduction in human activity go beyond visibly less road traffic and fewer planes in the sky – the planet is expected to see its first fall in emissions since the 2008-9 financial crisis.
Some commentators believe the plummet in demand for oil could spark the beginning of the end for the industry, which if true would be a huge boon to the environment, with oil being the single biggest source of CO2 emissions globally. Others are pinning their hopes on a ramping up of genuine public and political support for environmentally friendly reforms now that people and politicians alike have seen the evidence of how nature responds to people leading cleaner lives.
But all are in agreement that the clearer skies and greater abundance of wildlife will be only short-term if governments fail to act decisively in favour of policies that support a sustainable future.
One immediate illustration in the UK of what can happen when human activity is lessened is the hoped-for recovery in bee populations – as well as butterflies, birds and bats – as wildflowers flourish on grass verges and areas of the coutryside that are no longer being mowed. Roadside verges are home to 700 species of wildflower in the UK, which have largely disappeared from other areas developed into farmland or housing estates – but even on verges they are in decline thanks to council mowing (which has now seen a hiatus due to the lockdown).
Plantlife campaign manager Kate Petty said: “The fix is startlingly straightforward. Simply cutting verges less and later will save plants, money and reduce emissions. We need to rewild ourselves and accept nature’s wonderful ‘messiness’.”