By Virginia Capmourteres
Due to the unprecedented halt of human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have been noticing significant improvements in air quality worldwide. This phenomenon has been observed through satellite images across urban centres in China, Europe, the United States and Canada.
While experts agree that improved air quality should not be considered a silver lining during a life-threatening pandemic, these changes indicate that societies have the power to improve environmental quality, if their habits change. Dr. Madhur Anand, director of GIER, offers her thoughts to the Toronto Star: “What we can learn from COVID-19 responses is that rapid societal changes, from individual behaviour to governmental interventions, to reduce these detrimental substances, are possible.”
Banner photo credit: Toronto Star
