In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic struck, spreading disease and death across the globe. The presence of this novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) changed life for people worldwide, bringing abrupt upheaval in daily life patterns and behaviors as well as causing immense fear and anxiety. Strategies to reduce the number of infections included use of personal protection equipment such as masks, increased ordering of goods online, and, for many, working and studying from home. As human behaviors changed, so did the impacts on the natural environment. This entry reviews the short-lived positive and negative environmental impacts of the pandemic, focusing on medical waste and emissions, and concludes with a brief summary of these two examples of environmental impact of the pandemic, how the pandemic affected environmental concerns among the public, and a call for action to increase environmental research and improve environmental policy.