What impact is Covid having on the Environment?

Cluedo Monopoly · 18-12-2021 11:39pm #1

I imagine the amount of plastic being used is incredible - masks, test kits, PPE gear, syringes, sanitizer bottles, gloves etc

All the people working from home and doing online shopping must have a positive effect on car usage and air quality in urban areas. Same for air travel (holidays and business).

People are generally ignoring the climate change crisis all the same. Apart from COP26, Covid is the only show in town.

What else?

02-01-2022 5:59am

well, the rich have been flying in private jets rather than first class, so that's terrible for the environment. online vs in-person shopping is a toss-up IMO because all those packages still have to be delivered (and packaged up). for trips people do end up taking, they have been using public transit less and driving more, which is also bad.

Piollaire · 02-01-2022 8:23am

Covid is spreading through wildlife populations such as deer [1]. It's impact is unknown but I presume the old and weak are getting picked off.

1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/11/us-covid-wildlife-virus

Del2005 · 02-01-2022 8:57am

Online shopping is only good for the environment if there's no returns, if there's returns they usually end up in the bin so that's not environmentally friendly.

Traffic is nearly as bad as pre Covid, it was only low when we where in full lock downs now everyone is out and about. People afraid of catching Covid are driving now instead of getting public transport.

The move to outdoor dining isn't very good for the environment when you are using patio heaters, people applaud the removal of bad for the environment cars from our streets yet praise heating the outside!! And I'd say that the amount of pop up coffee van's isn't very environmentally friendly.

Ubbquittious · 04-01-2022 12:23am

The cost of a lot of cheap Ch1nese sh1te has gone up. Lots of things are hard to get now and people are doing without or repairing old

Ubbquittious · 04-01-2022 12:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118404197#Comment_118404197

What kind of harm are the popup coffee vans doing? Take away cups?

Phil.x · 04-01-2022 12:29am

Littering of surgical masks is a disaster.

A/c systems in work are now working at maximum speed, energy saving mode is disabled, returning to paper towels instead of hand dryers.

Chivito550 · 05-01-2022 2:46pm

Antigen and PCR testing must be horrific for the environment. Masks too.

Amazing how people suddenly don't care about the environment when faced with a "crisis".

MilkyToast · 05-01-2022 10:15pm

The amount of discarded masks is disgusting. I'd say I pick up 5 every time I go for a walk, easy.

I saw an estimate that the UK alone was sending 1.6 billion masks a month to landfill.

Potential-Monke · 05-01-2022 10:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118421202#Comment_118421202

People don't care about anything else if something is affecting their life.

Strumms · 05-01-2022 10:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423706#Comment_118423706

Better send masks to landfill then people…

the way some people go on they’d rather hospitals dispense with breathing tubes as it’s bad for the environment… made of plastic..nuts.

MilkyToast · 05-01-2022 10:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423826#Comment_118423826

It's possible to have a care for both the environment and people. Crazy, I know.

We don't send people to landfill, FYI. It's sort of frowned upon.

What impact is Covid having on the Environment?

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