Crisis gives opportunity to protect environment

I applaud the May 1 article, "Keeping it clean" by Joel Levin and Phillip Jones concerning the unintended positive impact that lockdowns across the world are having on improved air quality. The negative effects on human life and health should not be diminished; however, humanity has been given a unique opportunity to directly observe the impacts of human behaviors and actions on wildlife, ecology and environment. Collectively, we should not scurry back toward a "normal" that obviously did not serve the betterment of humanity, other species or the environment that we depend on.

Clean air is a necessity. The immediate drop in air pollution in every major city was achieved simply by driving less and where possible, adopting work at home policies. People in the neighborhood are choosing to walk and bike more. Further, according to the 2019 EAT-Lancet report of the United Nations, a plant-based diet would have a rapid, dramatic effect at decreasing green house emissions and improving air quality. All are factors that improve human health.

In the absence of human activity, wildlife and the environment have been responding positively. Sea turtles are nesting in peace on closed Florida beaches. Stories abound about the clear water in the canals of Venice and on coastlines everywhere. Dolphin, sharks and other sea life sightings are more commonplace off coastlines due to a decrease in boat traffic and fishing fleets. Animals in national and state parks throughout the U.S. are roaming freely and in areas they haven't occupied in decades.

Humanity is at a crossroads. How will we respond? Embedded within the plight of a pandemic are seeds of an equitable future for the planet. Humanity should cultivate this opportunity and commit to an enlightened strategy that promotes a clean environment and a more respectful, dignified, relationship with wildlife.

Anthony Ippolito

Arlington Heights