Page 7 - BPIF inPRINT Issue 62
P. 7

inDEPTH


                        In Barcelona, wild boars have been exploring
                        the city’s usually busy streets







               THE POSITIVE                                                                                            environment



               ENVIRONMENTAL



               IMPACTS OF CORONAVIRUS







                    ithout undermining   In Venice, grounded
               Wthe severity of         motorboats have resulted
               the current coronavirus   in the waters flowing clear
               pandemic, it is important   and calm as the sediment
               during these times of    in the waterways stays
               constant news updates and   settled, leading to a return
               global lockdowns to look for   of fish and swans to the
               any positives we can find.   canals. Meanwhile, in
                 Perhaps the most       Paulista in Brazil, a usually
               encouraging news, and    tourist-packed beach was
               possibly the only beneficial   deserted apart from wildlife
               effect of the pandemic, is   officials, who witnessed 97
               the positive impact it is   endangered hawksbill sea   We need to take serious   people and the health of the
               temporarily having on the   turtles hatch and safely   note of these environmental   planet are one and the same,
               environment. Across the   make their way into the   signals and what they   and both can thrive in equal
               world, travel has vastly   ocean, free from human   indicate about our way of   measure.'
               reduced, manufacturing   curiosity and interference. In   life. We need to move our
               plants have temporarily   Barcelona, wild boars have   production and consumption   For further information,
               ceased production and    been exploring the city’s   habits towards sustainable,   please contact Olivia Martin,
               streets, coastlines and   usually busy streets, and   local and essential. Inger   HR Adviser, at olivia.
               natural spaces have (almost)   in Llandudno, a herd of wild   Andersen, the head of the UN   [email protected]
               emptied of people and    goats has been intimidating   Environment Programme
               vehicles.                locals and helping themselves   (UNEP), explains that a   References:
                 BBC News reported      to garden plants.       ‘different’ economy needs   UNEP, ‘First person: COVID-19
               that emissions fell 25%   Whilst these changes   to emerge as a result of this.   is not a silver lining for the
               in China at the start of   are encouraging, and some   One where 'finance and   climate, says UN Environment
               the year as people were   rather amusing, they are only   actions fuel green jobs, green   chief, UN News’, 5th April
               instructed to stay at home.   temporary until economies   growth and a different way   2020, https://news.un.org/en/
               Factories shuttered, and coal   and countries ramp up again.   of life, because the health of   story/2020/04/1061082
               use fell by 40% at China’s
               six largest power plants
               since the last quarter of
               2019. The proportion of days   THE BPIF’S CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY REDUCTION
               with good quality air was   SCHEME SET TO RE-OPEN TO NEW JOINERS
               up 11.4% compared with
               the same time last year in   The recent budget announced that the Government would consult on proposals to
               337 cities across China,   extend the current Climate Change Agreements scheme until 2025 and re-open it to
               according to its Ministry of   new joiners. The scheme has been closed to new joiners since October 2018, and it’s
               Ecology and Environment.   therefore a final opportunity for companies who missed out to take advantage of the
               In Europe, satellite images   savings on offer. But companies have only until the end of September 2020 to finalise
               show nitrogen dioxide      their applications.
               (NO2) emissions fading
               away over northern Italy. A   For more information and help with the application process, please contact Steve
               similar story is playing out   Walker on 01676 526 050, or email [email protected]
               in Spain and the UK.


                                                                                                             7
   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12