The covid-19 outbreak and the climate crisis: Two converging emergencies

Abstract

The coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, which emerged in China in December 2019, monopolised the world's attention since the beginning of 2020. The whole world is making every effort to stop the expansion of the epidemic, soon a pandemic, and to face its dire consequences. Yet, in the midst of this health crisis, which brought our societies to a standstill, the momentum on climate action seems to have been hampered by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Yet, neither the health crisis, nor the measures that have to be adopted in reaction to it can be separated from an even more critical and deep climate crisis or be used as an excuse to delay the necessary climate action. On the contrary, the post pandemic strategies shall consider the climate emergency as a conditio sine qua non, not only to reduce the risk of future pandemics, but also to avoid a global warming that could be catastrophic for people and the planet.