From COVID-19 to clean air
The findings of a scientific project jointly conducted by two universities, in Moratuwa and Brisbane (published on Page 16) prove what is commonly known -- the air we breathe is much cleaner now because of the curfew and lockdown imposed due to COVID-19. But for how long?
These findings are relevant in no small way because clean air and COVID-19 are both directly interrelated to respiratory issues. While COVID- 19 is a virus and got the headlines it deserves, air pollution has not received adequate attention.
The reason could be attributed to the dramatic swiftness with which the virus, frequently described as an unseen enemy, attacks people. Polluted air that maybe unseen to the naked eye can still be monitored, but it can equally affect most of the organs and systems of the human body to the point of fatality. Young children and the elderly – with chronic respiratory diseases are particularly at risk.
With the pressure on the Government to relax the stringent curfew and reopen the economy, we are no doubt going to see one mad ‘ back to the future’ rush. Thousands of cars and buses and almost a million tuk tuks are revving up to hit the asphalt. Already, within just a few days of the curfew being partially relaxed to enable people to return to work, Colombo’s air quality has begun to deteriorate, says the Air Quality Unit of the NBRO ( National Building Research Organisation).
Air quality is a global issue.
Carbon monoxide (CO) from vehicular and aircraft emissions and industries is the main culprit. The world is moving towards alternate solutions -- like electric cars -- and only those like the US President who seems live in another planet are in denial of climate change and global warming. The London Financial Times in an editorial last weekend says governments should seize the chance of a green recovery and that it is not a menu of options (for governments). “This year was meant to be a turning point for climate action. It is up to policymakers to make sure that goal is not lost in a post-COVID-19 world,” it adds.
While the rest of the world embraces clean energy, Sri Lanka is still pursuing ‘dirty coal’ options by extending the high polluting, regularly breaking down plant at Norochcholai that distributes toxic ash all around the Puttalam area. Solar, wind, ocean power as alternate energy sources are being ignored. So too liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydro power on which successive governments have heavily invested seem to be going out of favour as different power sector interest groups with cash in their pockets dictate government policy.
Spineless governments that are reluctant to even ban CO pouring two-stroke tuk tuks from polluting the main cities and fouling up the air because they are owned by a million voters cannot pin all the blame on global warming and external factors. They have to take decisive steps themselves. Clean Air and COVID -19 are just two sides of the same coin.