What's the long-term impact of quarantining on the environment? Little to none.

Forbes Reports: Covid-19 Restrictions And Travel Bans Have Negligible Impacts On Long-Term Global Warming: Study

The world came to a halt in March as the COVID-19 pandemic began to disrupt daily life. People have been stuck indoors for months and many have seen this as an opportunity for nature to "heal." Yet, a recent study shows that the decline in greenhouse emissions and air pollutants has little to no influence on long-term impacts. The University of Leeds found that it may lead to cooling of only 0.005-0.001 degrees Celsius by 2030.

The researchers analyzed mobility data from Google and Apple that showed mobility had declined by 10% or more during April 2020 in 124 countries. Their findings that were published in the journal Nature Climate Change further found that the global carbon dioxide emissions and total nitrogen oxide emissions decreased by 30% in April 2020 due to a decline in road transport emissions. However, most countries showed a smaller decrease in nitrogen oxides of 20% or lower. On the other hand, China (28%) and India (48%) observed larger reductions in nitrogen oxides.

The study also estimated that reductions in nitrogen oxides will only help cooling a small amount as well - cooling up to 0.01 degrees C by 2020-2025.

In a press release, Piers Forster, director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate at Leeds and Principal Investigator of the CONSTRAIN consortium, who is also the lead author of the study, said, “The study also highlights the opportunities in lowering traffic pollution by encouraging low emissions vehicles, public transport, and cycle lanes. The better air quality will immediately have important health effects - and it will immediately start cooling the climate.”