In the article, the environmental consequences of COVID-19 are divided into three groups: negative, positive and ambiguously interpreted. Over the coming years, we can expect a weakening of the attention of the state, business and the population towards environmental issues, a decrease in environmentally oriented costs, redirection of cash flows to maintain or prevent a significant drop in the material standard of living. Among the conditionally positive consequences of COVID-19 and the associated economic crisis, one can single out a short-term reduction in the environmental impact, awareness of the increasingly urgent need for an early change in the export-raw material model, and the requirement for international coordination.