We are in the midst of two global public health catastrophes: the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the more insidious, chronic effects of climate change. The swift spread of COVID-19 has devastated many countries and their economies. But global changes in environmental conditions have been harming communities for decades. The World Health Organization estimates that climate change will soon cause about 250,000 additional deaths worldwide each year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress.
As the world has “locked down” to prevent the spread of the virus, there has been an unexpected reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Reduced air travel, commute-related transportation, and industrial operations has improved the air quality in parts of China and Italy. This trend likely holds true in other countries. While the environmental benefit is likely short-lived, there are four key lessons from our response to COVID-19 that can inform our strategy on climate change.
Necessity of international collaboration and communication
Countries have shaped their emergency response to COVID-19 based on data regarding disease incidence, treatment, and deaths shared around the world. Like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change impacts people globally. The effects of climate change include sea level rise, damaged food systems, loss of ecologies, destructive wildfires, and other extreme weather events. These will harm communities around the world to different extents at different times. Countries must share scientific data so that each can learn and prepare accordingly. Collaborative, multi-disciplinary networks of professionals–including medical providers–that develop problem-solving policy will be vital to flatten the climate change curve.
Disproportionate harms for vulnerable communities: environmental injustice
People at risk of experiencing higher COVID-19 disease severity and mortality include the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those with pre-existing conditions. In addition, social factors, such as geography, housing and food insecurity, and socioeconomic status, likely contribute to disparities in illness severity. Increased exposure to air pollution was associated with higher SARS case fatality, and this may apply to COVID-19. Like for COVID-19, everyone is at-risk for the effects of climate change. But residents of coastal regions, children and the elderly, people of color, and those with disabilities and from low-income backgrounds will suffer more. We must act to protect these vulnerable communities in the fight against climate change by addressing their unique needs. For example, people experiencing homelessness in urban heat islands can face complex stressors that prevent them from escaping extreme weather events.
Positive effects of lifestyle modifications
With the implementation of “shelter-in-place” practices, many people, companies, and institutions have modified their daily operations to help “flatten the curve.” For example, the use of technology in business, healthcare, and education has skyrocketed. People are holding more meetings, classes, and events virtually. This has reduced both disease transmission and transportation-related emission of greenhouse gases. Many recent changes to our work and personal lives arose out of necessity. However, what if we willingly made some of these, or others that are recommended to live more sustainably, the status-quo? No more cross-country flights for a one-hour business meeting. No more frequent drives to the convenience store to buy one or two items. If we can adopt big lifestyle changes during a rapidly evolving pandemic, we can implement small, sustainable changes in our daily lives. This will reduce our personal and organizational ecological footprint.
Importance of precautionary and preventative approaches
Many health experts and journalists have criticized the federal government for neither reacting appropriately to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic nor preparing the country to prevent devastating effects. For example, the widespread shortage of personal protective equipment illustrates poor preparation for the predictable spread of disease. The federal government has reacted slowly to this crisis and offered inconsistent recommendations for “shelter-in-place” practices. The consequence is dire: unnecessary lives lost. To avoid the same mistakes when tackling climate change, we must build infrastructure early on for when—not if—tragedy strikes. We must take steps to lessen environmental damage and strengthen our climate resilience to safeguard public health.
The long-term climate lesson
The COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis are strikingly similar. Our response to the former can inform our strategy against the latter. Surges in COVID-19 cases have exposed cracks in the medical system: limited equipment, lack of capacity, and restricted healthcare access. Climate change will deepen these fissures by overwhelming the system, increasing costs, and depleting resources. However, creating better information networks, implementing equitable financial and social policies, and providing training and capacity building for care delivery can strengthen existing health systems.
Medical providers have played indispensable roles in generating and disseminating information through research, communications, and advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. They must continue similar work for climate change mitigation and climate resilience. Hopefully, data-driven decision making and research breakthroughs will soon reduce the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the threats associated with environmental degradation and climate change will continue unless we learn from our current mistakes.
Raj Fadadu