‘Plastic, polluted waste cause of virus spread among public’

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‘Lockdown improves environment’

KUWAIT CITY, May 28: Head of Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) Dr. Wijdan Al-Eqab revealed the society’s participation in an online symposium held recently by the Green Tent of the “A Flower Each Spring” program, a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The participants of the symposium reviewed the positive environmental changes that occurred since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, such as the presence of living organisms in urban areas, due to the precautionary health measures taken by various governments in the world including Kuwait to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

One of the measures taken is the partial curfew and total lockdown which have both seemingly contributed to the reduction of carbon emissions and nitrogen oxides in the air and given an opportunity for endangered animals to increase.

These changes can be attributed to the halting of air traffic, cars and factories, and the precautionary measures taken by the countries across the world.

Speaking at the symposium, Dr. Al-Eqab stressed the need to pay attention to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment, such as the accumulation of plastic waste due to sharp trend in the use of single-use plastic products for dealing with the coronavirus patients or those suspected to be infected in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

She said, “We are now facing another problem, which is the accumulation of plastic and contaminated waste, and the lack of commitment by some to dispose them by dumping them in designated places, which contributes to the spread of the virus if they come in contact with other people by mistake, or due to its transmission from one location to another.”

Dr. Eqab affirmed that it is a perfect opportunity to encourage the production of environmentally friendly plastic materials, and prohibit the use of ordinary single-use plastics and non-biodegradable materials which can cause a great environmental and health calamity that must be dealt with urgently. She indicated that the 15 experts, specialists and academics from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Canada, Egypt, Algeria and Libya who are participating in the symposium confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly benefited the environment, as it reduced the levels of carbon dioxide, and enabled the earth to breathe; also environmental reports confirm the expansion of the vegetation cover.

The participants reported that there have been positive changes on the planet due to the coronavirus pandemic, especially the decline in levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions, which are produced from the use of fossil fuels, as shown by satellites and reports published by NASA and the European Space Agency. This is due to slow economic growth, disruption of work in some factories, reduced traffic, and suspension of social activities.

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