Pandemics and the Environment: Has the Environment Recovered Because of Covid-19?

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Policy Insight
Pandemics and the Environment
Has the environment recovered because of Covid-19?
20201 Pandemics and the Environment

POLICY MESSAGE
• Despite its negative impacts on human health and the global economies, COVID-19 provided an
opportunity to rebuild economies in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
• In Abu Dhabi, there were positive signs on air quality, greenhouse gas emission levels, biodiversity
and waste generation during the few months’ lockdown.
• Worldwide, statistics proved an 8% reduction in the global GHG releases and better air quality levels.
• Immediate interventions are required to guarantee a green rebuild of the economy and a more
permanent positive state of the environment, as well as appropriate responses to the negative
impacts of the pandemic on the environment.
2 Pandemics and the Environment

POSITIVE SIGNS
ON THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT
AREAS AROUND THE
WORLD ARE WITNESSING A
SIGNIFICANT DROP IN NO2
WHICH IS A KEY INDICATION
OF A BETTER AIR QUALITY
Abu Dhabi data and information are based on the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi concerned sectors
NO2 is an air pollutant that is mostly emitted from road transport, oil and gas
activities, and powerplants operations. Worldwide and in different areas, monitoring
satellites detected significant decreases in NO2 levels in the atmosphere.
Away
from Abu
Dhabi
and GCC
Regional
view
• Same impacts can be observed
in northern Italy as captured by
the European Space Agency’s
(ESA).
• Similarly, images captured by
the Mohammed Bin Rashid
Space Centre (MBRSC) have
shown positive drops of NO2
across the GCC
• According to EAD monitoring
stations and the satellite im-
ages processed in a research
project in collaboration with
the Consejo Superior de Inves-
tigaciones Científicas (CSIC):
NO2 concentration in the air
were much lower during Q1 - Q3
2020 compared to the period
before.
Global Countries - Italy GCC
Before After
Abu Dhabi
Local
view
MOST IMPACTED SECTORS
THE VARIOUS SECTORS AFFECTED BY THE
PANDEMIC, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A
POSITIVE REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GASES
RELEASES ARE:
• TOURISM
• TRANSPORT
• HEALTH
• EDUCATION
• ENERGY
• OIL AND GAS
• WASTE
• INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
EAD’S POSITION ON THE MATTER
THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU
DHABI (EAD)’S POSITION IS TO
SUSTAIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL GAINS
RESULTED FROM THE LOCKDOWN
PERIOD, THROUGH THE FOLLOWING:
• TO STRENGTHEN POLICY AND REGULATION
FRAMEWORK THAT HELP TO PRESERVE THE
GAINS MADE DURING THE CLOSING PERIOD
• TO ENHANCE ORGANIZATIONS’ AND
GENERAL PUBLIC’S OWNERSHIP OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
• TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO
RESILIENT, LOW CARBON ECONOMIES, AND
NATURAL RICH SOCIETIES
Before Before After After
3 Pandemics and the Environment

POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS OF COVID-19
• In Abu Dhabi, electricity produc-
tion and demand decreased by
10% during the month of April
and by 4.7% during the month of
May. As a result, electricity relat-
ed GHG releases are decreasing
as well.
• Likewise, globally, and according
to the International Energy
Agency, CO2 releases are set to
decline 8% in 2020.
THE EMIRATE’S WASTE
GENERATION DECREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY
• In the period from March to May 2020,
there was a reduction of 17% on total
waste generation compared to the same
period in 2019.
A reduction of
17% in waste
100
98
96
94
92
90
88
86
84
82
POSITIVE SIGNS ARE SHOWING ON THE
NATURAL BIODIVERSITY
12% annual
increase in the
rate of breeding
flamingoes
More turtles coming
to nest along the
mainland shore
855 pairs of which 714 chicks were born
1264 pairs for which
876 chicks were born
Abu Dhabi emirate observed few positive trends in it’s natural
biodiversity, which could be associated with the lockdown measures:
POSITIVE SIGNS
ON THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT
Abu Dhabi International
4 Pandemics and the Environment

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
Environmental
Fund
Economic stimulus
packages
Climate Change
Nationally Determined
Contribution (NDCs)
AREAS FOR FURTHER INTERVENTIONS
• The influence of
COVID19- preventive
measures on air quality.
• Impact of air quality on
the COVID19- death
rate in the UAE.
• Impact of COVID19- on
Marine Water Quality.
• Support building a
pathway to carbon
neutrality (mainly
energy and industrial
sectors).
• Support new ideas/
projects that would
sustain positive
impacts of COVID19-.
• Relation between
psychological behavior
and environmental
wellbeing,
• Relation between
human health and the
environment.
• Changes to natural
habitats and species during
COVID19-.
• Zoonotic diseases and
their prevention (could be
transferred from animals to
humans).
• Impact of COVID19- on Fish
Eggs and Larvae distribution.
• UAE bat species and their
role as a reservoir of viruses.
• Illegal wildlife trade in the
UAE.
• Studies on the rise of
single use plastic and
littering rates.
• Research on single
use plastics against
multiple use materials
for hygiene purposes.
• Promote green
products and
industries.
Air Quality Marine Water
Quality Climate Change New innovative ideas Biodiversity Waste Studies on
green goods
and services
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, RESEARCHES, AND INNOVATIONS
• Mobilize leadership outreach channels on topics
like over-consumption, food security, etc
• Develop interactive sustainable practice
campaigns for different age groups.
• Promote environmental messages through
champions or influencers.
• Invest in social media and present sustainable or
green alternatives..
• Develop awareness campaigns to support
reducing waste generation at source.
• Launch award schemes for innovative solutions
to environmental challenges and sustainability.
• Convene partner stakeholders to enhance
collaboration within current and future
capabilities.
• Conduct virtual outreach campaigns to
encourage participation in Public Hearing
“Majales”
• Enhance engagement with governmental
entities, the private sector, and the general
public
• Develop public engagement schemes related to
environmental issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL
OUTREACH
THE WAY FORWARD: HOW TO
SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES FROM
THE PANDEMIC?
• Develop an Environmental
Fund for the purpose of en-
couraging investments in
the environmental fields and
providing financial support
to environmental projects; in
addition to encouraging par-
ticipation between financial
institution, non-government,
private/public sector toward
green investment.
• Direct economic stimulus
packages to promote green
recovery initiatives. UAE in-
jected 126.5 billion AED in
stimulus measures to keep
the economy afloat, which
can be utilized to address
climate change and enhance
green growth, by including
“green growth” as part of the
requirements for these stim-
ulus packages.
• Provide more ambitious
measures in UAE’s planned
Nationally Determined Con-
tribution (NDCs).
POLICIES AND PRACTICES
• Reduce environmental
impact of surface transport.
• Enhance environmental
health management.
• Improve medical waste
management.
• Promote waste segregation
at source.
• Protect land and soil and
combat land desertification
and degradation.
• Reduce environmental impact of
surface transport.
• Enhance environmental health
management.
• Improve medical waste
management.
• Promote waste segregation at
source.
• Protect land and soil and
combat land desertification and
degradation.
• Required enhancement of
sustainable practices and Integrate
sustainable practices into all sector
policies and plans.
• Enhance the current data
analysis schemes by applying
artificial intelligence and
automation of environmental
monitoring, and support smart
inspection and real-time
analysis of all environmental
data.
• Introduce smart and real-time
data collection schemes with
the factories and businesses.
• Establish a program for the
COVID19- single use masks
and gloves entering the
environment.
Required environmental
policies that aim to:
Required enhancement of
sustainable practices
Monitoring and Inspection
5 Pandemics and the Environment

SEIZING THE
OPPORTUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL
OUTREACH
ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES,
RESEARCHES AND
INNOVATION
GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTIONS
REQUIRED
POLICIES,
PRACTICES,
MONITORING &
INSPECTION
Social media
utilization
Trageting
champions or
influencers
Interactive
means of
communication
Environmental
messaging through
leadership
Ambitious National
Determined
Contributions
(NDCs)
Environment Fund
12.6 billion AED
Economic stimulus
packages
Environment
policies
Monitoring &
inspections
Sustainable
practices
Pandemic
effects on key
environmental
areas Green products
and services
COVID-19 related
innovations
THE WAY FORWARD: HOW TO
SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES FROM
THE PANDEMIC?
6 Pandemics and the Environment