According to researchers, staying at home has led to a reduction in pollution levels, and this drop has saved more lives than those lost to the coronavirus. Images of pollution-free canals in Venice and animals returning to areas previously occupied by humans swept the internet, proving how our model of relentless development pressures the planet's natural resources—and how quickly nature regenerates when given the chance.
The restrictions on freedom of movement and socialization brought on by the pandemic have offered a unique opportunity to reflect on how we live and the urgent need to reduce our environmental impact. While this argument is nothing new, it took a global pandemic for us to finally take it seriously.
Given that humans are social animals by nature and that the majority of the world's population resides in urban areas, how monumental is the challenge of restructuring our lives and our relationship with the ecosystem amid new social distancing demands?
