In times of tragedy and suffering it may help us to look for silver linings. It is undeniable that the Corona Virus has inflicted destruction on countless people all over the world, but recent research shows the one thing that the virus is not hurting is the planet. In fact, quarantines across the continents have actually had a positive effect on the ever looming threat of global warming. One article I read discussed that in Italy, satellite images have shown that pollution has decreased drastically. Several new photos show the same effects in states across the United States after just a few weeks.

In Venice, Italy, most citizens have also observed both an improvement in air and water quality. Since everyone is staying inside, water traffic has decreased and this change has given the earth a chance to reboot. Fish in the canals of Venice can actually be seen, and swans and dolphins have returned to places they have not frequented in a long time.

This positive news does not outweigh the suffering of thousands, but during dark times we must make sure to remain hopeful. It is possible that there are things to be learned from this experience. Obviously we cannot all remain inside for the rest of our lives, but this quick decrease in pollution shows that there are things we can do to protect our planet. Maybe there are strategies we can obtain from observing the way the our current actions have improved the environment, and perhaps these strategies can be implemented into a more cohesive way to battle climate change. It seems sad that animals are only able to reclaim their environments in the absence of humans. This virus has forced us all to work together in ways that we are not used to, and hopefully when the situation improves everyone does not forget what we have learned.