COVID-19: Stay-at-home order reduces carbon pollution in environment — Environmentalist

Lagos – An environmentalist, Mr Emmanuel Emechete, says one major advantage of the stay-at-home order is the reduction in carbon footprints which is the amount of carbon dioxide causing pollution of the atmosphere

Emechete, a climate change advocate, said on Thursday in Lagos that with the reduction in air travels, industrial activity, vehicular movements and overall carbon pollution, Mother Earth was taking a much needed rest.

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“This stay-at-home order is an advantage to the earth and environment, there is reduction in air travels, industrial activities, vehicular movements, and a reduction of carbon pollution in the atmosphere.

“This break is just like a pause in the entire global system, by the time the pandemic is over, industries will start working overtime to make up for demand, the earth will become burdened again.

“Carbon footprints will be on the increase and at that time, the focus will have shifted from the environment and climate change issues, which in turn is dangerous to human existence,” he said.

Emechete, however, counseled that while tackling COVID-19, Nigerians should not neglect the issues of climate change, plastic pollution and the well being of the environment.

“Even with the lockdown, we should live sustainably to protect the environment; currently, we are contributing to the carbon footprints when we turn on our generators all day because we are home.

“People are at home and use more resources than they would have if they were not home, we use more water, air conditioning and we produce more waste.

“We should also ensure we properly dispose our waste as the waste management officials cannot go round to collect trash as before,” he said
The environmentalist noted that on the whole, the stay-at-home order had helped reduce carbon pollution, which was advantageous to the earth and the environment.

He, however, noted that one of the disadvantages of the lockdown was the relegation of environmental issues to the background.

“Prior to the compulsory lockdown in some states in the country, I had already written about how Mother Earth was also taking a much needed rest as a result of the stay-at-home order across the world.

“The lockdown has a positive effect on the environment; the only downside to it is that attention will be shifted from climate change and environmental issues, until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

“Most people will consider the negative effects of climate change issues as being long-term in comparison to the immediacy of healthcare issues, hence more attention on the latter.

Emechete said that presently, there are no more campaigns on climate change issues, until after the pandemic was controlled.
He said that most campaigns would be centred on healthcare and medical issues.

According to him, most environmental campaigns and programmes have been postponed till next year, whereas under normal circumstances most environmental days like Climate Change Day, World Forest Day and so on would be trending by now.

“Most of our campaigns for the environment are now being done online.

“The lockdown seems like a blessing for the environment currently, but once everything is calm the pressure on the environment will continue,” Emechete said. (NAN)