Is the Coronavirus crisis benefiting the environment?
These weeks we are witnessing how nature is returning to its original shape. It happens for the first time, that popular and always crowded tourist destinations are bringing back to its former glory. Venice is clean again! The canals in Venice are so still, dolphins and swans are returning for the first time in years.
Recent satellite images from NASA of China also showed less air pollution amid the country’s economic shutdown, due to less transportation and manufacturing. History suggests that global catastrophes, especially those with major effects on the economy, tend to drive a short decline in carbon emissions. The 2008 recession, for instance, was accompanied by a temporary drop in global carbon emissions.
What do you think? Is coronavirus inadvertently cleaning our planet? What are the possible implications? How the virus will affect tourism and perception of sustainability tourism?
Best regards,
Adis
Adis Krdzalic
FH Joanneum
Institut für Bank und Versicherungswirtschaft
Thanks, Adis, for initiating this little research. We should try to make a bit publicity for it...
I will link it to other issues which might fit to this!
Bye, Harry
Ceterum censeo mutationem climae esse vincendem.
(Incidentally, I think that global warming must be defeated)
Prof. (FH) Mag. Mag. Dr. Harald A. Friedl
Assoc. Professor for Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism
Institute for Health and Tourism Management
FH JOANNEUM - University of Applied Sciences
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße 24
8344 Bad Gleichenberg, Austria
Phone office +43-316/5453-6725
Phone mobil: +43-699/191.44.250
eMail: harald.friedl@fh-joanneum.at
Web: www.fh-joanneum.at/GMT
By protecting and restoring nature and its ecosystems, we protect and restore ourselves. This situation with the corona virus should change our perception about the nature and ecosystem.
Adis Krdzalic
FH Joanneum
Institut für Bank und Versicherungswirtschaft
Dear Adis, thanks a lot, this article you metion is worth to quote:
Bill Gates: Solving Covid easy compared with climate https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56042029
By Justin Rowlatt
One issue Gates talks about is...
Private jets permitted
Simply consuming less stuff - fewer flights, local food, less electricity and gas - won't solve the problem.
"India is going to build housing for their people, provide lighting at night, air conditioning to make conditions liveable," Mr Gates believes, so global demand will not reduce.
He argues political action is more important, demanding government do the right thing, and, using our voices as consumers, insisting the same of companies.
"If you buy an electric car, a hamburger made of a meat substitute, an electric heat pump for your home you are helping increase the production of these products and therefore helping drive prices down."
Mr Gates still enjoys the trappings of the billionaire lifestyle.
He uses private jets, but insists that they are powered by biofuels - aviation fuels made from plant products.
"I pay three times as much now for my aviation fuel, you know, over $7m [£5m] a year in all my offset spending."
And he has joined a £3bn bidding war to buy one of the world's largest private jet services companies, a business called Signature Aviation.
Is that appropriate when you've just written a book telling the world how to avoid a climate disaster?
"I don't think getting rid of flying would make sense," he replies. "That type of brute force technique won't get us there."
He says the answer has to be "a type of aviation fuel that doesn't cost much extra and is zero emission and that's got to be biofuels or electric fuels or perhaps using green hydrogen to power the plane".
My comment: Interestingly, this is something Paul Peeters, Professor Sustainable Transport and Tourism at Breda University of Applied Sciences, is arguing and doing research about. With the same price it won't be feasable, as aviation kerosine is heavily subsidized at the moment as there is not tax at all on it...
Ceterum censeo mutationem climae esse vincendem.
(Incidentally, I think that global warming must be defeated)
Prof. (FH) Mag. Mag. Dr. Harald A. Friedl
Assoc. Professor for Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism
Institute for Health and Tourism Management
FH JOANNEUM - University of Applied Sciences
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße 24
8344 Bad Gleichenberg, Austria
Phone office +43-316/5453-6725
Phone mobil: +43-699/191.44.250
eMail: harald.friedl@fh-joanneum.at
Web: www.fh-joanneum.at/GMT
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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant reduction in human activity, which in turn has had noticeable environmental impacts. Popular tourist destinations like Venice have seen a return of wildlife, and satellite images show reduced air pollution in places like China. While these changes might seem like a positive unintended consequence, they are likely temporary. The pandemic also raises questions about how the virus will impact tourism and the future of sustainable practices in the industry. The long-term implications will depend on how societies balance recovery with environmental priorities.
Implications on Tourism and Sustainability:
- Tourism Recovery: Tourism may initially slow down, allowing for reflection on more sustainable travel practices.
- Sustainability Focus: There could be a shift towards more sustainable tourism, with an emphasis on preserving natural sites.
- Long-Term Environmental Change: If the pandemic influences long-term behavior, it could lead to more permanent environmental improvements.
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