Christopher Rizzo and Karen Meara, Carter Ledyard & Millburn.
The closures implemented by nations, states and cities to contain the spread of COVID-19 had some unintended environmental benefits.They dramatically reduced air pollution emissions, moderately reduced energy consumption and improved the quality of life for a lot of wildlife. But these benefits are already proving to be short-lived as economies quickly re-open. The pandemic also highlighted how environmental burdens such as poor air quality and lack of open space disproportionately impact low-income communities, often communities of color, and contribute to higher mortality rates.
Environmental advocates and lawmakers have an opportunity to glean some important lessons from the pandemic before they are lost to our rapidly changing news cycle. This article highlights lessons relating to carbon emissions, air quality, energy use and access to open space, and considers how they can inform New York’s current and future efforts to achieve environmental goals. It also addresses the fiscal realities of this unique moment and argues that a green New Deal will be key to achieving ambitious goals.
