Page 41 - e-Book

• The most important method to reduce air pollution is to control the car traffic by using

pop-up bike lanes as in Berlin, building of long cycling network as in Paris,
development of cycling infrastructure etc.

• To reduce air pollution sharing of taxis and car pooling must be promoted.
• The pollution source management can be helpful in restoring environment and

ecosystem quickly.

The environment has benefited from decreased human activities imposed due to coronavirus
which has made humans learn that it’s time to understand the technicalities of environmental

sustainability and environmental conservation that can reduce the degradation of environment
in future. To bring positive changes in the environment, governments and individuals should

aim at improving traffic related rules and policies, reuse and recycling of waste should be

promoted, more and more trees should be planted, treatment of sewage by removing solid,
suspended and inorganic materials should be promoted before it enters the environment along

with the use of eco-friendly technologies.
6. Conclusion

The coronavirus pandemic has given us a provisional vision about lockdowns and shutdowns
which can give us an environment where we want to live. Though a halt in normal life is not

the most favorable way to reduce environmental degradation and pollution, but lockdown is a

catalyst for attaining a better quality of life. The clear skies have shown us how quickly we
can bring down air pollution. Today it is high time to think and analyse on maintaining the

improvements achieved due to lockdowns permanently and develop eco friendly technology
that can help in the sustainable development as well as environmental conservation. Methods

that can aid in environmental sustainability are electrification of transport, partial lockdowns
in case of emergency situations, work from home wherever possible, use of clean energies,

conservation of forests, efficient waste management system etc. Lockdowns have provided a

baseline data for different environmental parameters which can help in framing policies by
government at global, national, regional and community level. The coronavirus is a learning

lesson for exploring the affect of such lockdowns for a better future and attaining the goal of

environment conservation and preserving our natural resources for the future generation.
References

Arif, M., Kumar, R., & Parveen, S. (2020). Reduction in Water Pollution in Yamuna River
due to lockdown under COVID-19 Pandemic. ChemRxiv. Preprint. Retrieved from

https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv. 12440525.v1

31