The Good from Covid-19

While most of the news is dire, there are some positive stories that have come from the Covid-19 lockdown. We share some of our favourites:Global reduction in industrial pollution The Global Energy Review projects demand of energy will reduce by 6% with an estimated 8% in reduction in carbon emissions while taking into account the ease of restrictions in the coming months and the gradual economic recovery worldwide. Furthermore, low-carbon sources of global electricity generation are set to be at 40%, 6% points ahead of coal.Himalayan mountains visible in IndiaUnlike the memes that have been doing rounds on social media, this seems legitimate. According to CNN, locals of the Punjab area have for the first time in 30 years spotted the Himalayan mountains from their towns as air pollution continues to drop in India due to Coronavirus lockdown. Surprisingly, Delhi was believed to have experienced a 44% reduction in air pollution in the first couple of days since the lockdown took effect.Bears are back in Northern SpainThe Cantabrian brown bears have returned to the northwest Spain mountains following campaigns by conservation groups to protect the environment which has made the population grow from 65 bears to 350 bears. The bears were previously pushed to the point of extinction due to deforestation, construction of infrastructure and hunting.Lebanon legalizes medical marijuanaA parliamentary vote in Lebanon in mid-April legalized cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes. The United Nations ranks Lebanon among the top three cannabis cultivators in the Middle East and experts speculate a medical marijuana industry could bring $1 billion annually for the country. Although the country has reservations about the usage of cannabis, it is currently facing high levels of inflation, high unemployment rates and diminishing value of the local currency, all of which contributed to the nation legalizing cannabis to boost its economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.Germany breaks solar electricity generation record Recent consecutive sunny days in Germany have seen the country record new high records of solar energy production. A previous record that was recorded on the 23^rd of March was broken mid-April when more than 32,000 megawatts were produced in a single day. Germany's renewable energy consumption already makes 78% of the country's total energy consumption and experts project the number to rise to 80% by 2038.Putting CO2 emissions to good useScientists have identified ways of generating income from some of the carbon dioxide emissions fuelling climate change. Some of the products will include fuels, polymers, fertilizers, proteins and construction materials. This initiative will reduce the amount of CO2 that will need to be stored underground, which is a very costly process.Countries easing movement restrictions The Month of May has seen some of the worst affected areas in the world such as France, Italy and Spain begin to lift restrictions within their countries. France is set to re-open primary schools and shops as it has witnessed a low number of deaths in 5 weeks. Italy, on the other hand, is set to begin reopening its economy from May 4^th due to the drop in new cases. Meanwhile, Spain is lifting social restrictions by allowing children to play outside for one hour per day after youth in the country have spent six weeks in isolation.