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How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted carbon footprints around the world?

Jasmin Ratledge

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on carbon footprints around the world. With lockdowns and travel restrictions in place, carbon emissions caused by transportation have drastically decreased. However, this positive effect has been offset by increased energy consumption in households due to people staying at home.

In terms of transportation, the closure of businesses and the implementation of remote working has caused a reduction in the use of cars and public transportation. This has been a welcome change, as transportation is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions. In addition, the decrease in flights has led to a reduction in air traffic emissions, which again is great news for the environment.

However, the pandemic has also led to a surge in online shopping and delivery services. This has caused an increase in the emissions generated by these activities, as the delivery vans and trucks make their way through neighbourhoods to deliver goods to people's homes. Moreover, as people stay at home more, their electricity usage has gone up, with many working from home, watching TV and using computers more frequently. As a result, the carbon footprint of households has increased, offsetting the positive effect on carbon footprints caused by transportation.

Overall, I think that the impact of COVID-19 on carbon footprints has been a mixed bag. There are positive changes that have come out of this pandemic, such as the reduction in transportation emissions, but there are also negative effects, such as the increase in household energy consumption. It is clear that more needs to be done to combat climate change, and the pandemic has shown us that it is possible to make changes if we are motivated to do so. We need to work together to find long-term solutions to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment for future generations.