Experts see no environmental bonus from the COVID pandemic | COVID-19 Special

Carbon-dioxide emissions are expected to return to pre-pandemic highs this year. Last year, they fell significantly during the Great Lockdown.
In China they bounced back and grew overall, due to coal. With much of the world still in the grip of the pandemic, millions of people have taken to wearing FFP2 masks to protect themselves and others, but they're hurting the environment. The crisis has only given climate change respite. Freed from most restrictions, people are taking vacation again.
An unprecedented consumption boom is fueling the global economy. And people are driving more, to avoid getting infected on public transport. Then there's the pandemic's most visible legacy: plastic waste.

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[smkh]

As usual, the public doesn't give a damn.

[GreenAppelPie]

I’ve managed this entire pandemic with 5 or so cloth masks.

[michaels]

The only thing that matters is our behavior.

[dwnews]

As always, we'd love to include your questions in our upcoming shows! What would you like to know about the coronavirus pandemic? #askDerrick

[kewlor]

SADLY IT HAS NEVER BEEN PLASTIC'S PROBLEM FOR MILLIONS OF TONS ENDING UP IN OUR RIVERS AND OCEANS BUT IGNORANT CITIZENS WHO GLADLY PUT IT THERE!!

[kewlor]

IF ONLY GOVERNMENTS HAD SPECIAL BINS URGING CITIZENS TO DISPOSE OF THEM IN THESE???!!!

[de-vlaamse-huiszwaluw]

where is the money going when you pay for your emmision.

[thewolfofswingthat]

jokes on you, i wear the same mask for weeks hahahahahhaha

[hansonel]

Thank you DW for another great report on the enviroment. "Carbon-dioxide emissions are expected to return to pre-pandemic highs this year." That's sad to hear...

[MohdArif-plsy]

None of this expert dare to suggest less human mean less pollution.

[boracho]

Why haven't there been regulatory specifics and standards for the protective devices we put in our faces? I don't trust China to make my face filters unregulated. Or even regulated, for that matter.

[maciejkrycki]

Some rough calculations I did; Assuming everyone from 9 January 2020 to today (18 November 2021) used a disposable surgical mask once every 24h and got rid of it once it was used, that would mean that so far the amount of masks used would be 5272.8 Billion. Of course the real number of masks used is much smaller, but it would still be an astounding amount. Quite hard to make a better estimate since people would be mostly staying inside / some use their masks more than once, among other factors.

[FRGPUBG]

Thank you DW for such amazing content.

[R.U...]

It's funny, because on your channel and others when the first big Covid shutdown in China occurred, you showed images of Beijing and other cities with clear skies and visibility. That seems like a side-benefit that heretofore had not been present. AS the cities opened back up there was a reduction in air quality, but there was also a slight improvement still to be seen. How it will be with coal-fired plants reopening for the winter, I'm sure will show a reduction.

[dickspit]

why are you focusing on some end of the pipe line problem what should masks be made of who's making them who's handling the garbage who's mandating masks be worn??Maybe talk to those people.

[danielatlas]

Yeah the benifits are only monitory and only for the few

[tonyluseno]

Single use syringes and vials are other waste products to contend with as not all of them will end up in incinirators.

[lekiscool]

Oop. I throw my mask into my laundry. XD

[meowy-]

I think it's better to wear a cloth mask

[lucretius]

It is partially cultural, Japan barely has this problem.