Analogies and lessons from COVID-19 for tackling the extinction and climate crises

Andrew Balmford; Brendan Fisher; Georgina M Mace; David S Wilcove; Ben Balmford

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.084

Analogies and lessons from COVID-19 for tackling the extinction and climate crises

Curr Biol. 2020 Sep 7;30(17):R969-R971. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.084. Epub 2020 Jun 28.

Authors

Andrew Balmford¹, Brendan Fisher², Georgina M Mace³, David S Wilcove⁴, Ben Balmford⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Environmental Program, Gund Institute for Environment, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
³ Centre of Biodiversity & Environment Research, Medawar Building, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
⁴ Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
⁵ Land, Environment, Economics & Policy Institute, University of Exeter Business School, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PJ, UK.

Abstract

As environmental scientists working in countries whose COVID-linked deaths already exceed their military casualties from all campaigns since 1945, we believe there are significant messages from the handling of this horrific disease for efforts addressing the enormous challenges posed by the ongoing extinction and climate emergencies.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus*
COVID-19
Climate Change*
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
Emergencies
Extinction, Biological*
Humans
Pandemics / prevention & control*
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
Public Health
SARS-CoV-2