Has COVID-19 changed the way you behave?

To diverge from the previous comments a bit, I would suggest that COVID-19 has impacted on my habits in a way that is detrimental to the environment. The main issue for me would be that it has discouraged the use of public transport. Whereas before taking the bus or the train was just a regular part of life, now I see it as an activity which poses the risk of transmission to me and to my family. I would posit that this is the case for quite a few people, and that it will have undoubtedly increased the number of cars on the road. Certainly, those who have the means to drive, will be doing so at the moment. If this trend is replicated from city to city, and worldwide, it will have had a significant detrimental impact to the environment through an increase in carbon emissions. Considering that the pandemic is not going to abruptly end overnight, the shift towards private transportation is likely to linger for the long term. I believe that this is something that governments should address as they move forward in the process of recovery from COVID-19.

Yes, I think COVID-19 revolutionised my perspective on almost all aspects of my life. Like Mel mentioned earlier, the pandemic showed the impermanence of life and to add, it showed how fragile our world actually is. For me personally, it showed me where I stood in this world and it encouraged me to change my lifestyle to live more sustainably, from how I navigated my environment and treated myself.

Beyond that, I began looking at everything in hindsight and how poorly we treated our world. I think the pandemic has opened conversation towards green recovery and a circular economy. I just hope it is not just conversation and action that can go forward.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the deaths and suffering it has incurred have reminded me of the impermanence of life, that I should stop living for myself and take part in the global pursuit for equitable development and sustainability, for populations who do not enjoy the class privilege that I have.

In my perspective, Covid-19 has affected into positive outlook especially on transport emission. As far as I am concerned, in my country, most of the employees are working at home, so it will cut off the emission of CO2. Moreover, people also have a willingness to do more exercise too. For instance, cycling is the most popular sport in my country during the pandemic.

Definitely, especially in relation to meeting up with others for work or school related purposes. In the past, I would have had arranged a common meeting point and have held discussions over lunch - now, it seems so much more convenient to just have a Zoom call instead. Of course we can see how this is more environmentally friendly, skimping out on the environmental costs associated with transport - but at the same time, we can also see how it has become increasingly difficult to separate work from our own personal lives.

The impact of lockdowns has definitely led me to be more reflective of my more damaging habits towards the environment. From staying at home for work, university and the gym, the impact of my fuel usage seems to be a lot. Especially now seeing that lockdowns have led to better air quality than pre-COVID times. Even buying a coffee every day with a non-reusable cup has made me realise the impacts of one individual’s actions. Indeed, the pandemic has encouraged me to use more public transport or walk where I am able to and bring a reusable straw or cup whenever I am out.