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Rethinking Air Quality and Climate Change after COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph Ching

    (Meteorological Research Institute, 1-1 Nagamine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0052, Japan)

  • Mizuo Kajino

    (Meteorological Research Institute, 1-1 Nagamine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0052, Japan
    Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan)

Abstract

The world is currently shadowed by the pandemic of COVID-19. Confirmed cases and the death toll has reached more than 12 million and more than 550,000 respectively as of 10 July 2020. In the unsettling pandemic of COVID-19, the whole Earth has been on an unprecedented lockdown. Social distancing among people, interrupted international and domestic air traffic and suspended industrial productions and economic activities have various far-reaching and undetermined implications on air quality and the climate system. Improvement in air quality has been reported in many cities during lockdown, while the death rate of COVID-19 has been found to be higher in more polluted cities. The relationship between the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and air quality is under investigation. In addition, the battle against COVID-19 could bring short-lived and long-lasting and positive and negative impacts to the warming climate. The impacts on the climate system and the role of the climate in modulating the COVID-19 pandemic are the foci of scientific inquiry. The intertwined relationship among environment, climate change and public health is exemplified in the pandemic of COVID-19. Further investigation of the relationship is imperative in the Anthropocene, in particular, in enhancing disaster preparedness. This short article intends to give an up-to-date glimpse of the pandemic from air quality and climate perspectives and calls for a follow-up discussion.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Ching & Mizuo Kajino, 2020. "Rethinking Air Quality and Climate Change after COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5167-:d:385905
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Peng Jiang & Jiří Jaromír Klemeš & Yee Van Fan & Xiuju Fu & Yong Mong Bee, 2021. "More Is Not Enough: A Deeper Understanding of the COVID-19 Impacts on Healthcare, Energy and Environment Is Crucial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Amit Kant Kaushik & Mohammed Arif & Matt M. G. Syal & Muhammad Qasim Rana & Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin & Ahlam Ammar Sharif & Ala’a Saleh Alshdiefat, 2022. "Effect of Indoor Environment on Occupant Air Comfort and Productivity in Office Buildings: A Response Surface Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-24, November.
    3. Devendra Paudel & Ram Chandra Neupane & Sailesh Sigdel & Pradip Poudel & Aditya R. Khanal, 2023. "COVID-19 Pandemic, Climate Change, and Conflicts on Agriculture: A Trio of Challenges to Global Food Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    4. Le Zhang & Qinyi Gu & Chen Li & Yi Huang, 2022. "Characteristics and Spatial–Temporal Differences of Urban “Production, Living and Ecological” Environmental Quality in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Zhong Chen & Dongping Shi, 2022. "The Atmospheric Environment Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Metrological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Ianis Delpla & Thierno Amadou Diallo & Michael Keeling & Olivier Bellefleur, 2021. "Tools and Methods to Include Health in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies and Policies: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.

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