Environmental externalities of the COVID-19 lockdown: Insights for sustainability planning in the Anthropocene.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly halted the Anthropocene's ever-expanding reign for the time being. The resulting global human confinement, dubbed as the Anthropause, has created an unprecedented opportunity for us to evaluate the environmental consequences of large-scale changes in anthropogenic activities. Based on a methodical and in-depth review of related literature, this study critically evaluates the positive and negative externalities of COVID-19 induced lockdown on environmental components including air, water, noise, waste, forest, wildlife, and biodiversity. Among adverse impacts of the lockdown, increased amount of healthcare waste (300-400%), increased level of atmospheric ozone (30-300%), elevated levels of illicit felling in forests and wildlife poaching were prominent. Co

SUBMITTER: Chowdhury RB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9616981 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature