As the world goes into lockdown, countless questions are raised about childcare, employment and exams - but what will these new measures do for our environment?

According to many studies, the temperature of the earth dropped by up to 2 degrees celcius in some areas in the week following the September 11th 2001 attacks - simply because of thousands of flights being grounded and cancelled.  Now, with companies such as EasyJet cancelling all flights for the forseeable future, it seems that we are headed in that same direction.

NASA scientist Patrick Minnis wrote in 2004 that “increased cirrus coverage, attributable to air traffic, could account for nearly all of the warming observed over the United States for nearly 20 years starting in 1975.”  This seems to give a rather clear-cut outline of how to deal with the rise in global temperatures - reduce flights.  Of course, many people will have you believe that it is simply not that easy, as millions rely on flights daily, and (at the moment) there is no better alternative for travelling abroad quickly.

Not only this, but general carbon emissions have decreased worldwide since the start of the outbreak.  Due to efforts to contain the spread of the virus, pollution levels in New York have decreased by almost 50%, and satellite images show nitrogen dioxide levels declining above Northern Italy, and similarly in Spain and the UK.

The situation now and in 2001 demonstrate a solution to the problem that has plagued the human race for decades - how to protect our planet.

Will the world take note of these examples even after the virus has slowed down?  Will changes be made? One can dream.