World Earth Day

The world celebrated Earth Day on 22 April.  Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 to recognise efforts to protect the environment.  It was inspired by activists protesting an oil spill off the coast of California.

Perversely, the coronavirus lockdown has had some positive environmental impacts.  Declining levels of air pollution has meant that the Himalaya are visible from over one hundred kilometres away and the lack of cruise ships has meant that turbidity in the Venice canals has dropped significantly.  Closer to home, declining demand has seen petrol prices sink to levels not seen for years.

As we slowly emerge from lockdown it is worth considering what changes could we make to our behaviour so that some of the environmental benefits are not lost.  Perhaps this could mean walking or riding to school, reducing incidental car travel or perhaps cutting back on consumer purchases.

Craig Moore