The dreadful ongoing situation regarding coronavirus has forced us all to take a different view of life and for businesses, this means examining every facet including the benefits of homeworking. But the changes to the planet have been significant too. And it’s proof that we can reverse climate change.
The effect of lockdown on the planet
The UK is not the only country to enforce a lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus and a result, the way the earth is behaving has changed.
Seismologists have found that the earth is quieter. With less movement on the surface, the core of the earth is producing fewer vibrations something that scientists believe is also impacting on how the earth is moving.
And there is another benefit – less pollution and cleaner air.
Cleaner air
In the UK, our air quality suffers a two-pronged attack – our carbon emissions as well as winds blowing smog from other countries. This year, with the UK and other countries in lockdown, the air quality index improved, meaning that we were breathing is less polluted air as we took our once a day, Government-sanctioned exercise.
The UK isn’t the only country to experience this. India entered lockdown at the start of April and ever since, levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) fell dramatically and continued to do so.
Pictures taken from space also show remarkably clearer skies over certain countries. China, one of the biggest polluters on the planet, also saw a dramatic decrease in airborne pollutants.
Aside from improved statistics, wildlife is also enjoying their habitat more, free from human intervention, intentional or otherwise.
ISO 14001 and climate change
What these figures, graphs and photos show is that with consistent action, our combined efforts can reduce air-borne pollutants.
Whilst we don’t know the long term effects of lockdown on the environment, nor how far-reaching they are, it proves that we can make a difference to the health of the planet.
ISO 14001 environmental management systems is the key standard that companies can use to improve their environmental process. In recent years, companies have become more aware of environmental issues, translating this into action.
Some companies choose to create their own standard but in the last decade, there has been a growing number of companies across the globe becoming ISO 14001 certified.
The International Standards Organisation no longer publishes these figures but in the UK in 2010, there were 1,200 companies already ISO 14001 certified, a figure that will surely have increased a decade on.
Now is the time to consider ISO 14001
With the results of better air quality and less pollution visible as a result of changes during lockdown, for many organisations, now is the time to look forward to ISOs and what they can offer the business.
Streamlining process and including everyone in the drive to improve environmental responsibility are key factors of ISO 14001 accreditation. Knowing that the small, consistent changes that we do make are working will surely be the trigger for more companies enjoying ISO 14001 accreditation.
