>>11493284there have been dramatic changes in the emissions of greenhouse gasses. a very interesting effect.
i think, though, that overall it makes very little difference. but i could be wrong. in terms of CO2 levels, we are still running at only slightly-lower-than-normal levels, since we all still need power and the truckers are still driving their trucks at full capacity (even more than normal since there is this "HOARDE TOILET PAPER" increased demand in a lot of commercial goods). and shipping (container ships) i don't think have slowed very much, and they are huge polluters.
but hopefully this does positively impact the environment. for one, people may hopefully realize that commuting to work and taking flights to attend conferences is totally an outdated ritual that can easily be replaced by sitting at home or your local workplace and connecting digitally. but the main problems still exist -- your electricity is still probably originating at a fossil fuel burning plant and that needs to change. and it is a fundamental change that can only be realized if we take a monumental response to climate change. the huge response we've seen globally to coronavirus might serve as a good model for how people might form that kind of response. so maybe that is a thing too.
but in the long run, i am still extremely worried about the environment. something needs to happen, and a pandemic might wake us up, but at the same time it might be keeping us distracted
