COVID-19 and
Climate Change
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“Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine the world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next."
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Arundhati Roy
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The COVID-19 pandemic has shone light on various pre-existing systemic flaws, and it has also presented us with new challenges as well as opportunities. Seeing recent examples of how dramatically and quickly individuals and institutions have adapted to this crisis prompts us to wonder how we can take further measures to positively impact our health and environment.
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There are various connections between climate change and diseases such as COVID-19, starting with outbreaks. At this time, it is believed that COVID-19 was transmitted to humans from an undetermined animal species. For years, experts have been calling attention to dangers posed by rising species extinction and the destruction of wildlife habitats, including rising human exposure to zoonotic diseases. See this video for illustrated examples.
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Global warming, which in turn exacerbates COVID-19 symptoms as high temperatures raise levels of ozone and other air pollutants. Extreme heat also increases pollen and other aeroallergen levels, which can trigger asthma. In April, the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning that people with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of becoming seriously ill and dying from COVID-19.
However, a recent
report on the Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19 found that the pandemic has led to some temporary benefits due to lower air pollution levels, such as significant drops in CO2 emissions around the world. The report recommends that the restoration of economic activity should aim to protect these gains.
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"This is a chance for nations to recover better, to include the most vulnerable in those plans, and a chance to shape the 21st century economy in ways that are clean, green, healthy, just, safe and more resilient.”
Patricia Espinosa
,
UN Climate Change
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Political Landscape
International:
In May, world health professionals from from 90 different countries signed a
letter to the leaders of G20 nations calling for a pragmatic, science-based approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing guidance for a healthy recovery from this crisis. Among other measures, they ask that national chief medical officers and chief scientific advisors be directly involved in the production of all economic stimulus packages.
Some governments are planning their post-COVID economic recovery plans to boost low-carbon industries. Early research
findings show that the following G20 countries have made national and subnational-level public funding commitments to clean energy exceeding those to fossil fuels: the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Japan and China.
A new
position paper by The Elders explains the necessity of multilateralism to overcome this pandemic and reshape the world after COVID-19. In the forward, Mary Robinson writes, "The virus will not be overcome unless states work together, pooling resources and expertise to strengthen health systems, support the vital work of the World Health Organization, and encourage a spirit of solidarity."
The WHO has a new
global strategy on health, environment and climate change, which features an "empowered health sector". This includes using a public health framework, tailored to national circumstances, to focus action on upstream determinants of health and climate change in an integrated and mainstreamed approach across all sectors.
National:
As of July 15th of this year, 68 environmental rules and regulations have been officially reversed, revoked or otherwise rolled back by the Trump administration, and 32 additional
rollbacks are still in progress. The largest number of these regulatory changes are to air pollution and emissions.
The CARES Act does not provide targeted programs to assist the renewable energy industry. Instead, it enables billions of dollars to aid the fossil fuel industry. The proposed
ReWIND Act seeks to amend the CARES Act to block the fossil fuel industry's abilities to benefit from it.
As Congress works on post-COVID-19 plans, American health and medical professionals are asking legislators to reject efforts to roll back key health and environmental protections. They urge our country's leaders to
build back better, including transitioning to zero-emissions vehicles, and funding pedestrian-friendly community development projects.
There is also increasing support for an eco-friendly infrastructure package. On July 1st, the US House of Representatives passed the
Moving Forward Act. If approved by the Senate, it would include clean energy aid in federal recovery efforts.
The lack of US cooperation in international efforts to address COVID-19 and climate change severely hinders the success of these global endeavors. The Trump administration is currently facing fierce criticism for its recent, formal plan to
withdraw our nation from the World Health Organization (WHO).
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Some Steps We Can Take
Reducing CO2 emissions
As many of us have now worked from home for the first time, we can explore the possibilities of continuing that practice beyond COVID-19 quarantine. This is a prime time to promote the approval of remote work options in our workplaces.
Produce Food Locally
At the start of the pandemic, grocery store shelves were stripped bare as people stocked up on food. Since then, there has been a significant rise in home gardening to cultivate food. We must do what we can to support local food production, as it is reduces CO2 emission, increases food security, and promotes healthy eating.
For example,
The MercyOne Community Healing Garden
, located next to its Cancer Center in Clive, provides fresh, organic produce for cancer patients. The garden is also an educational tool utilized by oncology dietitians to teach patients about the health benefits of a plant-based diet.
Social Media
Stay updated and engage in conversations using: #RebuildBetter #RecoverBetter #GreenRecovery #SustainableRecovery #BuildBackBetter and #ClimateStrikeOnline
Political Action
It is crucial that we demand our country fully invest in domestic and international efforts to address climate change and improve public health. We can follow and respond to calls for actions from organizations working on these intersecting issues, such as this EDF Action campaign:
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We need to rebuild better. Together."
Staying abreast of clean energy sector efforts to influence post-COVID-19 planning can enhance communications with our representatives. Here are a couple of examples: the
letter to Congress from the Solar Energy Industries Association, and the wind industry's
statement
on its vision for COVID-19 economic recovery.
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The WHO and George Mason University invite health professionals globally to participate in a brief survey about their country’s - and the world’s - efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies.
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Support
Physicians for Social Responsibility - Iowa Chapter
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