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Want To Go Eco-Friendly During The Pandemic? Here’s What You Can Do

girl in a mask during lockdown and children holding saplings plants

We are at such a point in history where we are not sure of our future. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly created massive chaos in people’s lives, but it also points towards our obsession with profit and development at the cost of the environment. The lockdown, which had restricted transportation and industrial activities, has indeed shown us that this world can be a better place without human beings.

With humans confined to their houses, the environment got a break it deserved. There is a decrease in air pollution, and it is reported that the Himalayas are visible from some parts of north India after decades. We also saw the images of a huge flock of flamingos in the metropolitan Mumbai, and it is attributed to the decrease in air and water pollution, which is because of the increase in the quality of the algae, which is its primary food.

Fig 1: Effect of the pandemic on the planet

Thus, less human intervention has had a lot of positive impact on the environment.

How Does Environment Degradation Influence The Pandemic?

The state of the environment has a definite impact on the pandemic and other diseases. Many infectious diseases in humans like rabies, the plague, Ebola, etc. originated in animals and then infected humans.

Fig 2: Zoonotic diseases is any infection that is naturally transmitted from animals to humans.

Thus, environmental degradation and unnecessary human intervention can open huge opportunities for the infection and their transmission. 

Some Eco-Friendly Practices Amidst The Pandemic 

The pandemic and the resultant lockdown has curtailed our freedom to an extent and has also created a ‘new normal.’ This new life demands us to lead a slower life and follow some sustainable living practices.

The pandemic and the lockdown have cut short life to the essentials. It has made many of us realize that we can do more with less by reusing things at our disposal. And the pandemic can be seen as the nature’s way of telling us to put people and the planet’s welfare before profit.

About The Author: Radhika R is a student of Christ University Bangalore. She is pursuing her Masters in English with Cultural Studies. She completed her UG in English Literature from Kerala. Her areas of interest are mythology and arts. 

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