Proceedings of the First Lekantara Annual Conference on Public Administration, Literature, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education, LePALISSHE 2021, August 3, 2021, Malang, Indonesia

Research Article

Pollution and Environmental Degradation due to Covid-19 Pandemic: An Analysis under International Law

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.3-8-2021.2315061,
        author={Amalia Zuhra SH., LLM., PhD},
        title={Pollution and Environmental Degradation due to Covid-19 Pandemic:  An Analysis under International Law},
        proceedings={Proceedings of the First Lekantara Annual Conference on Public Administration, Literature, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education, LePALISSHE 2021, August 3, 2021, Malang, Indonesia},
        publisher={EAI},
        proceedings_a={LEPALISSHE},
        year={2022},
        month={1},
        keywords={covid-19 pandemic; international law; waste; pollution},
        doi={10.4108/eai.3-8-2021.2315061}
    }
    
  • Amalia Zuhra SH., LLM., PhD
    Year: 2022
    Pollution and Environmental Degradation due to Covid-19 Pandemic: An Analysis under International Law
    LEPALISSHE
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.3-8-2021.2315061
Amalia Zuhra SH., LLM., PhD1,*
  • 1: Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta, Indonesia
*Contact email: amalia.z@trisakti.ac.id

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in all aspects. A lot of casualties and huge economic losses are being experienced by all countries. Besides, the natural environment is also affected by this pandemic. The positive impact is the reduced air, water, and noise pollution due to the lockdown which minimizes human activities in all sectors and drastically lowers greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, environmental damage also occurs due to the pandemic, especially pollution caused by improperly managed plastics, masks, disinfectants, and other medical waste. This article discusses how international legal instruments have adapted to this pandemic and what steps should be taken by states as a form of global responsibility to deal with pollution and environmental damage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is normative research and uses a descriptive-analytical method. The Basel Convention, an international agreement on controlling the transboundary movement of B3 waste and its disposal, is considered not sufficiently effective and comprehensive in preventing and overcoming pollution due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, all states and non-state parties in the Basel Convention need to raise awareness, apply the precautionary principle, and enforce the law in dealing with pollution produced by the COVID-19 pandemic.