Unprecedented: the toxic synergism of Covid-19 and climate change

Joshi, Manish; Caceres, Jose; Ko, Steven; Epps, Sarenthia M.; Bartter, Thaddeus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review and compare the constellations of causes and consequences of the two current pandemics, Covid-19 and climate change. RECENT FINDINGS: There has been a transient counterbalancing, in which the response to Covid-19 has briefly mitigated pollution and greenhouse gasses. This divergence belies multiple commonalities of cause and effect. SUMMARY: The convergence of these two pandemics is unprecedented. Although at first glance, they appear to be completely unrelated, they share striking commonalities. Both are caused by human behaviors, and some of those behaviors contribute to both pandemics at the same time. Both illustrate the fact that isolation is not an option; these are global issues that inescapably affect all persons and all nations. Both incur prodigious current and anticipated costs. Both have similar societal impacts, and disproportionately harm those with lesser resources, widening the gap between the ‘haves and the have-nots.’ One can only hope that the devastation caused by these unprecedented pandemics will lead to increased awareness of how human beings have helped to create them and how our responses can and will shape our future.