Economic lockdown causes strong reduction in air pollution globally

No, dolphins and swans didn't return to the canals of Venice to swim in clear water as an unexpected side effect from the pandemic – these claims were shown to be fake.

But new research reveals it is true the grinding halt on global economic activity has had a remarkable effect on ground and atmospheric pollution.

Using satellite images and data from thousands of air quality stations, European researchers have found a 20 per cent decrease in air pollution – including ground-level nitrogen dioxide (usually caused by car pollution), ozone, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) - during the first two weeks of lockdown in 27 countries around the world.

Read the story from The Age by Miki Perkins - “Economic lockdown causes strong reduction in air pollution globally.”