GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT of the COVID-19 PANDEMIC COVID-19 Pandemic and Resulted Lock- Travelling Is One of the Main Causes of Masks

15.02.2021-21.02.2021 No 294

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC COVID-19 pandemic and resulted lock- Travelling is one of the main causes of masks. The World Health Organization has downs and border closures have signifi- greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, espe- called for a 40% increase in production of cantly affected livelihoods of all people cially carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen di- disposable PPE. On one hand, use of plastic around the globe, resulting in a number of oxide (NO2). Moreover, the studies have has helped to prevent more rapid spread of negative effects, such as COVID-19 related shown that NO2 levels are correlated to the virus. However, on the other hand, use death and infection rates, economic crises noise pollution from traffic, which is a big of single-use plastic items have created a due to closures of businesses and travel problem for urban areas and can affect men- pressure on sustainability, exacerbating the bans, school and university closures and as tal health, as well as wildlife. Lockdowns issue of plastic pollution. Mismanagement a result, lower quality of online education. during the pandemic have forced people to of the use of PPE, could result in a global One of the controversial effects of the pan- work from home and travel less, including use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion demic is environmental impacts, as for the travelling for tourism, business travels and gloves per month. first time since the start of the industrial rev- commute, and as a result, led to an increased Moreover, with closure of restaurants and olution we can witness some positive envi- air quality. Aviation is one of the sectors, cafes, came a surging demand for take-out ronmental changes to our planet. However, which was most hit by the lockdown meals, which usually come in single-use when talking about environmental impacts measures. While this has had negative eco- plastic containers and wrappers. Online of COVID-19, it is important to be able to nomic impacts, it has also reduced the GHG shopping has also had a large demand, differentiate between long-term and short- emissions, proving to be beneficial for im- which requires wrapping products in plastic term effects of the pandemic. proving the air quality. material. In this light, waste management Since the beginning of the industrial revolu- According to the European Environmental should be an essential public service that tion in the 19th century, air pollution has be- Agency (EEA), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) lev- will not only help to stop the spread of the els have decreased significantly throughout virus but also protect the environment. The come one of the main environmental con- Europe. For example, in April 2020, the lev- cerns. Even though there is some pollution behaviour of use of single-use plastic during els of NO2 emissions were 61% less than ex- the pandemic will most likely have a long- caused by natural processes such as volcanic pected in Spain, 52% in France and 48% in activity, natural forest fires and organic mat- term effect, changing the newly emerging Italy. In 2020, global CO2 emissions have perception of recycling and choosing envi- ter decomposition, the atmosphere is largely decreased by 2.4 billion tonnes or 7%. De- affected by human activity (anthropogenic ronmentally sustainable products and offset- spite the decrease, global CO2 emissions ting recent achievements in social aware- effects). Annual increase in CO2 emissions amounted to 39 billion tones, leading to an ness. was 3% in the early 2000s. As a result of increase of total CO2 in the atmosphere, as shifting from using coal as an energy source The pandemic is reminding us that we have one should keep in mind that CO2 remains long neglected the environment. In this in developed countries, this number has de- in the atmosphere and oceans for centuries. creased down to 0.9% in the 2010s. Unfor- light, it is worth mentioning that COVID-19 Therefore, despite the drop in GHG levels, is a zoonotic disease (the disease that is tunately, Kazakhstan, as well as other Cen- the current decrease in emissions is not tral Asian countries is yet to make the shift. transferred from animals to humans). Now- enough and we should aim for zero CO2 adays, 60% of existing human infectious Concerns are being raised about the air qual- emissions. diseases have animal origin, while 75% of ity due to the introduction of various gase- Decreased GHG emissions and energy de- new such diseases are transmitted from ani- ous and particulate substances as a result of mand have had positive effects in terms of mals to humans. Moreover, since 1940 50% anthropogenic activities. High concentra- air quality in 2020, proving to be an effec- of those diseases have emerged due to intentions of gaseous and particulate substances tive short-term impact of the pandemic on sive domestic livestock farming, which in the air can have harmful effects for both the environment. However, in order to brings us to a conclusion that the main rea- human health and wellbeing and the envi- achieve long-term effects, the political son behind the spread of zoonotic diseases ronment. Poor air quality is linked to cancer, measures should be taken globally to curb is environmental degradation caused by hu- heart and respiratory diseases and stroke. the effects of climate change. Unless policy- man-animal interaction. Therefore, in order Moreover, researchers have found that poor makers learn some lessons from the change to prevent similar outbreaks in the future we air quality has intensified the effects of in air quality during lockdowns, rebound of should focus on environmental sustainabil- GHG emissions in 2021 is unavoidable. COVID-19, which raises socio-economic ity. concerns. The pandemic has also created a new problem – plastic waste. In 2017, the United Na- As the UN’s environment chief, Inger An- Small particles (PM10 and PM2.5 stand for tions made an announcement declaring plas- dersen, noted, “Nature is sending us a mes- particulate matter smaller than 10 and 2.5 sage with the coronavirus pandemic and the micrometers, respectively) can be breathed tic pollution a worldwide crisis. Moreover, in 2019, the Basel Convention on the Con- ongoing climate crisis,” and if humans do in and be transferred to the bloodstream. PM trol of Transboundary Movements of Haz- not change their activities that cause climate concentrations are affected by human activ- ardous Waste and their Disposal was change, biodiversity loss and as we can see ities, such as agriculture, industrial produc- amended in order to include plastic waste spread of pathogens, we might face similar tion, residential cooking and heating. Dur- and was ratified by more than 180 countries. crises repeatedly. As the world gets out of ing the first lockdown measures in Europe, Emergence of COVID-19 has disrupted the the pandemic, governments should focus on PM10 concentrations were 30% less than ex- development and improvement of plastic a sustainable economy that is better for the pected in Spain, 26% less in Norway and waste management. planet. While many industries, such as tour- 25% less in Italy. Even though people were Since the beginning of the pandemic there ism and hospitality, have suffered economic spending more time at home, this decrease has been demand for single-use items such consequences of the pandemic, they should in PM concentrations is most likely due to as personal protective equipment (PPE): take on the opportunity to shift to sustaina- the closure of workplaces. gloves, hand sanitizers in plastic bottles and ble development while recovering.

Written by Saule Akhmetkaliyeva, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture

The Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay re-  The Prime Minister of Mongolia Luvsan-  The Secretary-General of the Turkic Council  Baghdad Amreyev met with the Vice Presi- ceived the Prime Minister of Azerbaijani Ali namsrain Oyun-Erdene received the Ambas- sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of dent of Turkey Fuat Oktay. The sides dis- Asadov in Ankara. Vice President Oktay cussed the current projects being imple- pledged to revive and rebuild the recently lib- Turkey to Mongolia Ahmet Yazal. Discuss- mented by the council with the participation erated territories of Azerbaijan ensuring that ing the positive trends in the bilateral rela- of Turkey, as well as future plans such as the tions, the sides agreed to foster the develop- Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan in 2020-2025 Turkic World Strategy and 2040 ment of bilateral trade and activating cooper- developing those regions. Prime Minister Turkic World Vision, reports. The Secretary- ation in tourism and air transport. The sides general also gave detailed information about Asadov expressed gratitude to the Turkish noted that the two countries plan to operate the informal summit of the Cooperation side not only for the support during the Upper direct flights twice a month starting from Council of Turkic Speaking States to be held Karabakh conflict but also for the help amid April of 2021 and they also expressed their in Kazakhstan on March 31 (Aa.com.tr, the COVID-19 pandemic (Aa.com.tr, intentions to increase the trade of such com- 21.02.2021). 18.02.2021). modities as leather and leather-related prod-  The head of the Committee on Language and  The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi ucts. (Montsame.mn, 19.02.2021). Terminology of Tajikistan Olimjon Muham- Recently, the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan madjonzoda announced that Korzhenevskoi Gakharia announced his resignation due to  Peak of Pamir mountains has been renamed differences of opinion with his own team Abdulaziz Kamilov visited Turkmenistan, Ozodi Peak and Ozodi Peak has been re- over the detention of a prominent opposition where he had a meeting with the country’s named Sangtalak. Korzhenevskoi Peak is the politician Nika Melia. The chairman of the President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. third highest peak in the Pamir Mountains United National Movement (UNM) opposi- The parties discussed issues of cooperation in and is one of the five "Snow Leopard Peaks" tion party Nika Melia, had been accused of the implementation of infrastructural and in the territory of the former Soviet Union. inciting violence at street protests in June transport projects in Central Asia. On the The peak was named after Evgenia Korzhen- evskaya, the wife of Russian geographer Ni- 2019, a charge he has dismissed as politically same day, Kamilov together with his Turk- men counterpart Rashid Meredov signed a kolai L. Korzhenevskiy, who discovered the motivated. Due to this fact, the trilateral program of cooperation between the Minis- peak in August 1910 (Asiaplustj.info, meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey, Azer- tries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries 17.02.2021). baijan and Georgia scheduled for 18 of Feb- for 2021-2022. The document aims to pro-  The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart ruary has been postponed (Reuters.com, mote trade and economic integration in the Tokayev signed the law on the ratification of 18.02.2021). region (Kabar, 18.02.2021). the agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and UNESCO on the establish-  The Special Forces of Turkey and Pakistan’s  According to Kazakh Finance Minister Yer- ment of the International Centre for the Rap- Special Services Group finalized a three- ulan Zhamaubayev, the national budget defi- prochement of Cultures (ICRC) under the ae- week ATATURK-XI 2021 joint military ex- cit amounted to 2.2 trillion tenges ($5.29 bil- gis of UNESCO. The center will promote tol- ercise. The closing ceremony of the drill was lion) in 2020. To finance the deficit, the au- erance and peaceful coexistence of different held at the Pakistani military's Special Ser- thorities borrowed 3 trillion tenges ($7.2 bil- religions and cultures through building ca- vice headquarters in Tarbela near the Afghan lion). Due to limited domestic market re- pacity in intercultural communication border. The drill focused on counter-terror- sources, the government issued ruble bonds providing a platform for discussion and worth 223 billion tenge. As of January 1, knowledge sharing. The center will also con- ism operations, close quarter battle, fire and tribute to the effective promotion of Kazakh- move techniques, helicopter rappelling, com- 2021, Kazakhstan’s state debt reached 20.6 trillion tenges ($49.5 billion) and accounted stan’s initiatives at UNESCO and increase pound clearance and actions of hostage res- the credibility of Kazakhstan at the interna- for 29.6% of its GDP. A share of the govern- tional level (Astanatimes.com, 16.02.2021). cue (Aa.com.tr, 20.02.2021). ment debt in total state debt and GDP corre-  The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan spondingly equaled 80% and 23.9% (Kazin-  The Karaganda pharmaceutical complex and the Federation Council of the Federal As- completed the registration procedure of the form, 19.02.2021). Russian “Sputnik V” (Gam-COVID-Vac) sembly of Russia held the fifth online meet-  The Association of Leather and Footwear vaccine against coronavirus infection on the ing of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission Producers of Uzbekistan reports that the territory of Kazakhstan. An expert organiza- on Cooperation. The participants expressed country prepares to launch the production of tion under the Ministry of Health of Kazakh- satisfaction with the progress made in the bi- Nike and Adidas footwear in the 4th quarter stan confirmed the safety, quality and effec- lateral relations and discussed a wide range of of 2021. Initially, the enterprise will produce tiveness of the vaccine, having considered the issues. The parties particularly emphasized 3 million pairs of sports shoes annually and materials of the registration dossier. The pro- the full capacity will be reached in the 3rd duction of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine was labor migration focusing on the joint solution launched in Kazakhstan at the end of Decem- of urgent problems in this area. The issues of quarter of 2022. Investment costs of the pro- ber 2020. It is planned to produce 2 million cooperation in the field of the agro-industrial jects are estimated at $12 million. Uzbekistan doses of vaccine at the initial stage of produc- sector and tourism were also discussed in de- plans to export 50% of shoes to Central Asian tion (Iz.ru, 15.02.2021). countries. The share of its domestic market tail by the participants (Uzdaily.uz,  The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Turkey 18.02.2021). will be 20% (UzReport, 20.02.2021). Kubanychbek Omuraliev met with the Mayor  According to Ukraine's Ambassador to Tur- of Kecioren Municipality of Ankara Turgut  The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs key Andrii Sybiha, in 2020 bilateral trade be- Altinok. Discussing the issues of bilateral re- of Tajikistan Khusrava Noziri met with the tween Ukraine and Turkey amounted to lations, the sides noted the need to further de- Ambassador of Mongolia to Tajikistan around $5 billion and remained at pre-pan- velop cooperation in various fields between Luvsan Battulga. During the meeting, the demic levels. The implemented pandemic-in- the municipality of Kecioren and the munici- sides tackled issues of current bilateral rela- duced restriction did not affect the trade vol- palities of Kyrgyzstan. The parties reached an tions, cooperation in the economy, agricul- umes. Sybiha mentioned that growth rates of agreement to establish a monument dedicated ture and hydro-energy. The parties discussed to Manas in the square in front of the munic- trade were high and varied from 10% to 15% ipality of Kecioren, as well as the allocation the development of Tajik-Mongolian cooper- during the last 4 years. He also noted that ex- of space at the Center of Turkic Culture "For- ation within the framework of international pectations from the potential free trade agree- tress Estergon" for the exhibition and sale of and regional organizations (Avesta.tj, ment were promising. In particular, trade national products of Kyrgyz folk art (En.ka- 19.02.2021). turnover can be doubled and quickly reach bar.kg, 17.02.2021). $10 billion (Ukrinform.net, 19.02.2021).  The Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stol-  The International Turkic Culture and Herit- tenberg stated that the military alliance will  Recently, Azerbaijan’s ADY Freight re- age Foundation organized a meeting between ported that freight traffic via the Baku-Tbi- the president of the Foundation Gunay not withdraw troops from Afghanistan "be- Afandiyeva, and the Charge d'Affaires of the fore the time is right". The final decision on lisi-Kars railway increased more than 2 times in 2020 compared to the 2019 indicator. In Kyrgyz Republic in Azerbaijan Mukhamed the troops stationed in Afghanistan depends particular, it grew from 110.2 thousand tons Lou. The sides exchanged views on the pro- on President Biden's rejection or acceptance to almost 225 thousand tons. For the same pe- spects for further cooperation highlighting of the deadline that comes on May 1. Cur- the large-scale activities of the organization riod, a share of containerization increased aimed at promoting the rich material and cul- rently, the Pentagon is considering plans to from 76% to 77.5%. The railway started op- stay, to leave, or gradually withdraw the tural heritage of the Turkic-speaking peoples. erating in two-way mode recently. It is The parties emphasized the importance of troops. The deal and the final decision are be- planned that cargo turnover will be increased strengthening the partnership between the ing reviewed in the White House from the current 6 million tons to 20 million Foundation and Kyrgyzstan shared plans for (Wionews.com, 15.02.2021). tons in near future (AzerNews, 17.02.2021). the future (Azertag.az, 18.02.2021).

Prepared by Saule Akhmetkaliyeva and Kanat Makhanov