Page 5 - NBY News April 2020

Americans are going to voluntarily return
to a more ascetic lifestyle once the
Coronavirus eases its chokehold. To wit,
the Chinese government is already
hyping a stimulus package designed to
Dear EarthTalk: I feel weird asking, but is make up for the months of lost economic
there an environmental bright side to the opportunity for businesses there. And we
spread of the Coronavirus? And is there an aren’t far behind with President Trump
environmental cause of the pandemic? promising a payroll tax cut, an
— Jane K., Miami, FL infrastructure push, paid sick leave for
hourly employees and the potential delay
Coronavirus has killed thousands of of estimated tax payments as ways to
people and sickened hundreds of thousands stimulate the economy in the wake of the
(if not millions) more around the world. It pandemic.
has also caused mass hysteria and public
health officials are bracing for the worst. As for whether there’s an Air Quality Improvement
environmental “cause” of the pandemic,
The situation is mostly bad news, but the we don’t think so—except in as much as it
“silver lining” for the environment might be probably came to us from wildlife. But
a downturn in carbon emissions and other according to the World Health
pollution due to reduced manufacturing, Organization, environmental factors that
people staying home, less air travel, far lead to human congregation—such as
fewer cars on the road—and generally less sunny weather—could theoretically
overall physical movement and economic increase the rate of spread. On the other
activity. hand, studies suggest that warmer
temperatures reduce the spreading of
A recent analysis by Carbon Brief, a UK- respiratory infections, due to their effects
based website covering news in climate on the dynamics of cough droplet flight.
sciences and climate and energy policy, But all in all, the research shows that
found that measures to contain the environmental conditions do little to
Coronavirus in China have resulted in affect the transmission rates of viruses
reductions in output of 15 percent to 40 such as Coronavirus.
percent across key industrial sectors there,
with an overall reduction in greenhouse gas CONTACTS: Analysis: Coronavirus has
emissions by some 25 percent below normal temporarily reduced China’s CO2
over the course of February 2020. emissions by a quarter, https://
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-
Only time will tell if the situation here coronavirus-has-temporarily-reduced- Learn about the new voting experience rolling out in LA County for March
gets as dire as in China. “Some data indicate chinas-co2-emissions-by-a-quarter; How 2020. League of Women Voters of Los Angeles | 3303 Wilshire Boulevard , Suite
school closures and work-from-home the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Affecting 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90010
mandates have already reduced traffic flow CO2 Emissions, https://
around Seattle,” reports E&E News. “Similar www.scientificamerican.com/article/
statistics have suggested that rush-hour how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-
traffic is down in New York City, as well.” affecting-co2-emissions/; “Environmental Looking for a SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY?
Meanwhile, BART ridership in and around factors influencing the spread of
San Francisco is down 25 percent so far in communicable diseases,” CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING FULLERTON
March as a result of people staying home. https://www.who.int/
These examples don’t add up to a huge environmental_health_emergencies/ 373 E. Imperial Highway, Fullerton, CA 92835
downturn in emissions yet, but we’re still in disease_outbreaks/
the initial stages of the pandemic’s spread. communicable_diseases/en/. APRIL 2020

For those who would like to see this EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer
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over the hump with this outbreak, don’t & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit
count on it. We’re all used to the EarthTalk. See more at https:// VIEW SERVICES ONLINE ONLY
conveniences and creature comforts that a emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://
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April 2020 5