Climate change and COVID-19: global challenges and opportunities

Elsevier, EClinicalMedicine, Volume 31, January 2021

2020 was undoubtedly dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in the death of more than 2 million people worldwide thus far. The year was also marked by the increasingly evident effects of climate change, including record-breaking wildfires, flooding, and more extreme temperatures. A striking parallel between these two crises is that they both resulted in loss of life that could have been prevented through global efforts. Additionally, the pandemic may further strain livelihoods and resources already affected by climate change, requiring swift action to avoid catastrophic risks to human health.