Stanford Earth's Marshall Burke estimates that the reduction in PM2.5 pollution from the coronavirus lockdown in China has saved tens of thousands of lives. How long will these reductions last?
The coronavirus pandemic has not only quickly changed the livelihoods of millions of people around the globe, but also the environment. The reduction in emissions from COVID-19 countermeasures has saved tens of thousands of lives in China alone, according to Marshall Burke.
Experts say that the conronavirus could hurt climate change action in the long run. Companies that are currently hurting financially will be likely to delay or cancel climate-friendly projects, says Stanford's Rob Jackson.
Greenhouse emissions are lower than before, but experts say it won't last. "We need sustained declines. Not an anomalous year below average,” says Rob Jackson.
For decades, engineers and planners have not been properly integrating the dynamic effects of climate change in their risk simulations, says Stanford Earth's Noah Diffenbaugh.
China's COVID-19 countermeasures have slashed toxic air pollution. Between 50,000 and 75,000 lives have been saved due to the decreasing air pollution in China, according to Marshall Burke.
"The reductions in air pollution in China caused by this economic disruption likely saved 20 times more lives in China than have currently been lost due to infection with the virus in that country," Marshall Burke said.
Stanford Earth's Marshall Burke says a preliminary estimate of premature deaths avoided due to cleaner air in China offers "a useful reminder of the often-hidden health consequences of the status quo.”
“The lives saved due to the pollution reductions are roughly 20x the number of lives that have been directly lost to the virus," says Stanford Earth professor Marshall Burke.
"If the global economy crashes, emissions will drop short term as we produce fewer goods, but climate action will slow. Employment trumps environment in politics," says Stanford Earth's Rob Jackson.
Stanford Earth professor Marshall Burke's calculation of how the coronavirus affects air quality is cited in the context of a discussion of the "political, financial and economic storm" facing climate change advocates.
It's estimated that water utilities are losing 20%-50% of water being delivered to customers due to leaky supply pipes. Daniel Tartakovsky proposes a new method for detecting these leaks.
A tweet went viral after claiming that a single volcano produced more CO2 than all cars in history. "The statement is pants-on-fire false," says Stanford Earth's Rob Jackson.
