Mother Nature is taking a breather—she’s healing. And it shows, literally.
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NASA Satellite data show a significant 30 percent drop in air pollution (atmospheric nitrogen dioxide) over the northeastern United States, and that’s phenomenal. The first image below is average data from March 2015-2019. The second image is recent data for March 2020. The difference is mind blowing.
What now?
Now that we are witnessing our planet becoming healthier, will it change the minset of those who previously shunned the very concept of greener living? Will it sway government officials to pass more laws to conserve and protect our land and eco systems? Will it inspire a decline in corporate greed which fuels climate change acceleration? The realistic answer is most likely not, but the answer can be yes, if humanity makes a collective effort to make those desires a reality and not just wishful thinking.
The Aftermath
As cities slowly re-open and society returns to normal routine, we will most likely see people make haste to replenish what was lost—money.
People will eventually return to work in order to provide for their families, and with that said, our roads, skies and waterways will once again become major hubs for transportation. Cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats and airplanes will once again return to ejecting harmful fuel emissions that put our planet and air quality in jeopardy in the first place.
Unfortunately, this is our reality.
Hope
Although the improved state of the environment may not be sustained in the long run, we can remain hopeful due to the fact that billions of people on a global scale have become a witness to the impressive healing ability of Mother Earth—which in turn may have had a positive shift in mindset on being more eco-conscious.
Take India, for example. New Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world—and now its inhabitants are witnessing a visibility of Himalayan mountain peaks—a view that was practically obsolete prior to the mandate of isolation and social distancing. This phenomenon has awakened apathy in those who were asleep, and will perhaps spark activism in places where priority for environmental rights was non-existent.
Conclusion
The temporary state of a thriving earth reminds me of a famous quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson:
“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
It may not have lasted, but we got to experience it. Even if for a short time—and it was beautiful.
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