HACKER Q&A
📣 kempbellt

Environmental impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown?


Has anyone, or is anyone, taking into account the environmental impact of the global response to COVID-19?

Reduction is cars on the road. Cancelled flights. Many restaurants and bars are closed. Cancelled events. And the list goes on.

I am spitballing factors here, but I am curious what our current CO2 emissions are and if it is measurable in any real way.

Curious if anyone has a take on this.

  👤 jaclaz Accepted Answer ✓
Check the ESA Satellite imagery here (Northern Italy) to visually appreciate what has changed (this is mainly about nitrogen dioxide):

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2020/03/Coronaviru...

👤 pwg
There have already been multiple items here over the past weeks indicating that China's CO2 emissions dropped tremendously after Wuhan and the surrounding areas went into their lockdown.

Measurable, yes, some of the items linked to satellite imagery showing before and after results and it was quite obviously measurable.

👤 probinso
It will likely result in some very interesting studies, like that of Marine Life in the North Atlantic after the attacks on New York during September 11th.