On the 23rd of March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa implemented new measures to aid in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa. The president declared a three-week national lockdown with several limitations on travel and movement for most South Africans, with the exception of essential workers. This meant people would only be allowed to leave their homes to buy food, seek medical help or under extreme circumstances. Prior to the lockdown being implemented, government had already put regulations in place which imposed limits on public gatherings; travel from international countries which were declared as a high-risk and the sale of immune depriving goods such as alcohol. Furthermore, as an attempt to reduce the rate of infection from those travelling into the country from outside countries, boarders were closed. Alongside these measures, all inbound travelers were subjected to a fourteen day quarantine and compulsory testing for COVID-19.
Since the president’s announcement, South African citizens have been adhering to the stringent government regulations and are not partaking in their normal life activities. The natural environment is experiencing an unfamiliar and positive change due to reduced human activity. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to lead to short term positive effects on the environment, which include:
Decreased air pollution in major cities
With citizens instructed to stay home from school and work, road traffic and flights have lessened and factories have limited their undertakings. All these activities are commonly linked with the momentous upsurge in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As the lockdown continues, reduced traffic and factory undertakings will result in enhanced air quality levels in major cities.
Decreased noise pollution and impact on marine life
Unwanted and disturbing sounds can be defined as Noise pollution, this is pollution which unreasonably interrupts people’s daily activities. In most situations, people get used to sounds that are there for short periods of time, e.g. construction work. Noise rarely causes people to complain, however, in circumstances where the volume is unbearable or repetition will cause irritation, people’s lives are disturbed and complaints arise. In South Africa, the law, through the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 and municipal by-laws, protect citizens from unbearable noise pollution.
A great number of South Africans have become accustomed to noise and live in a world filled with noise pollution. Noise that is common in major cities is mostly caused by, but not limited to, development taking place, construction, airplanes and different modes of transportation on ground. Various health problems for people are caused by noise pollution. Wildlife, on land and in the sea are greatly affected by noise pollution as well. Noise from ships and human activities in the ocean is harmful to marine life, such as whales and dolphins that depend on echolocation to survive.
Decreased human activities on the sea have undoubtedly reduced the negative impact of noise pollution on marine life and strict lockdown regulations have led to a decrease in the number of activities with high noise levels in residential areas.
Cleaner towns and decreased waste pollution
The reduced number of people in the streets has afforded municipalities in small towns and major cities the opportunity to clean the streets with minimum disruptions. Major cities such as Johannesburg have had the opportunity to clean and disinfect the streets in and around the city. Transport hubs such as taxi ranks were prioritised, giving municipalities an opportunity to thoroughly clean and get rid of waste in these places, consequently promoting a clean environment. The benefits of keeping a clean environment include an infectious free life for individuals, more especially during a global pandemic such as COVID-19.
Reduced littering in towns has led to reduced waste which has a positive impact on the environment. This is because less waste saves space in existing landfill sites; reduces the need for future landfill sites and saves costs for cleaning and disposing costs. Less waste is directed towards streams and water sources, this results in reduced water pollution and less marine life would be threatened by litter such as plastic.
Closing Remarks
Environmental impacts are interlinked and result in impacts on social and financial aspects of life. As a result the interconnectedness of environmental impacts and solutions adopted cannot be focused on one sphere of development. During this difficult time, we encourage South Africans and the world at large to adopt improved environmental practices while at home to ensure that the environment is sustained for our wellbeing and future generations.
Individuals can take care of the environment by adopting a zero-waste lifestyle. This can be adopted with basic acts such as reusing plastics bags and making careful considerations when purchasing goods by being mindful of the packaging used. Most importantly, dispose infectious waste in a proper manner, this can be done by ensuring that the waste is disposed in a bin that has a lid or a plastic bag that can be tied, preventing the waste from falling onto the ground. Infectious waste includes face masks, gloves, tissues, wipes and other infectious waste. This prioritises the safety of waste workers and prevents the spillage of such waste into streams, water sources and the ocean.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a number of negative effects on South African citizens, businesses and the economy. While we all attempt to navigate through this difficult time and adhere to government regulations, may we use the time we have to contribute to the good that can come out of our current situation and result in a better tomorrow for all. In order for these short term positive impacts to lead to a greater and prolonged impact, individuals are encouraged to start by making small yet significant changes where they can. This has the potential to influence others and ensure that their actions promote good environmental management.
