Coronavirus, the planet, and you

Coronavirus, the planet, and you

How the spread of the deadly virus is impacted by climate change, the environment, and our lifestyles.

Coronavirus—or COVID-19—has turned the world upside down and remains widespread.


We can all educate ourselves on the virus and how it moves in the world around us.

Here's our guide.

Coronavirus explained

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses common in people and animals. SARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, to which there is presently no cure.

COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has rapidly spread across the globe. All 50 states have reported infections. It is, as of May 2020, the leading cause of death in the United States.

On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Read on for possible explanations for the rise in animal-borne diseases, environmental characteristics that can increase your risk, symptoms, and steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Coronavirus and climate change

Deforestation forces animals to seek new habitats, increasing risk of spreading disease.

There is no direct evidence that climate change has affected the spread of coronavirus. However, what we do know is that climate change makes animals of all sizes move to escape the heat as the planet warms. This causes ecosystems to collide and animals without previous contact to interact, creating opportunities for pathogens to find new hosts.

Climate change has caused favorable conditions for other infectious diseases:

  • Lyme disease
  • Waterborne diseases
  • Mosquito-borne diseases

Root causes of climate change also impact the likelihood of animal-borne diseases:

  • Deforestation - loss of habitat that forces animals to migrate and potentially come in contact with other animals or people and share germs.
    • For example, bats that carried Ebola were forced to move to new habitats because the forests in West Africa they lived in were cut down to grow palm oil trees.
  • Large livestock farms - increase the risk of transmission from animals to people. Alternatives to these farms would lower risk of disease and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
In detail:This conversation on COVID-19 with the director of Harvard University's Center of Climate, Health and the Global Environment further discusses climate change and coronavirus.

Coronavirus and the environment


Smog over Salt Lake City (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Air pollution has been shown to increase risk of catching respiratory diseases, and causing the effects to be worse—a study done on SARS, a virus closely related to COVID-19, found that people who breathed dirtier air were about twice as likely to die from the infection.

In detail: Our reporter looks at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region and how its chronic air pollution connects to its above-average coronavirus death rate.

Who the coronavirus is killing suggests that the disease is not only a health crisis, but also an environmental justice crisis. African American, Latino, and Native American populations all carry disproportionally high COVID-19 related death rates.

In detail: From MLK Jr. to lead poisoning, this article from Grist highlights how the warning signs were there, but vulnerable populations across America were left unprepared and unprotected.

These populations are more likely to:

  • Live in close or cramped communities where it is difficult to self-isolate
  • Work in or live near factories that have left their respiratory systems compromised and more susceptible to diseases
  • Deal with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and cancer that heighten risk
  • Lack access to safe drinking water or good health care

Bottom line: Your environment drastically affects your likelihood of catching and fighting coronavirus.

In detail: This opinion piece by Chase Iron Eyes of the Lakota People's Law Project warns us to use "the lessons of this pandemic in our fight to preserve the planet" before it's too late.

We've covered the impact of the environment on coronavirus, but what about the impact of coronavirus on the environment?

Check out this infographic to discover how coronavirus has changed (both for the worse and for the better) the physical world we live in, from carbon emissions to waste, wildlife to energy.

Coronavirus and your health


Lt. j.g. Natasha McClinton, an OR nurse, prepared a patient for a procedure in the intensive care unit aboard the U.S. hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) (Credit: US Navy)

As labs across the world race to find a vaccine, millions of humans have caught the virus or remain susceptible to catching it. Knowing the symptoms is important to help with early detection, isolation, and seeking medical care.

Infection is caused by droplets from an infected person's cough, sneeze or breath. These droplets could be in the air or on a surface an infected person has touched.

Coming into contact with the virus, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, gives the virus access to the mucous membranes in your throat, where it then spreads, and within 2-14 days you may show symptoms such as:

  • Fever
  • Cough or shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Chills
  • Headache

For most people, symptoms will end with a cough and fever—more than 8 in 10 cases are mild. But for some, especially those fragile or with underlying health conditions, the virus can cause more severe symptoms and develop into pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can eventually cause the body to shut down.

Take action


A woman walks outside with a mask on. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Protect yourself and your family.

  • Wash your hands frequently—good ol' soap and warm water will work just fine.
  • Wear a mask when out in public—this will help reduce the spread of infection.
  • Practice social distancing—remain at least 6 feet apart to again help reduce spread of the virus. Even if a friend seems healthy, remember that many people who catch the virus asymptomatic and, without knowing it, can spread the disease.
  • Follow state and national mandates—as frustrating as it may be sometimes, being diligent now will prove a better outcome over time.
Don't fall into national panic-buys.
  • Expect minor shortages, as factories are shut down and shipping and delivery slows due to precautionary measures taken to sanitize and ensure the safety of essential workers.
  • Nevertheless, be smart with your money and resources. As panic around an item's availability increases, prices can skyrocket. Amazon, eBay and other online retailers have taken steps to curb price gouging, but still be sure to weigh the necessity of the item with the cost it may be.
Pressure your representatives to create lasting change.
  • Contact your local, state, and national representatives to emphasize the need for permanent reforms, from workplace benefits and sick-leave rights to investing in low-carbon technologies to make our communities more climate-resilient.
  • Rethinking our agricultural practices, reducing pollutants in our air, and investing in public health research are steps we can take to have a long-lasting impact on the welfare of our health and our planet. Let your government know you care.
  • Find your state and national representatives here.

Banner photo: MiroslavaChrienova

Jellyfish floating in the ocean
Credit: Pexels/Pixabay

Scientists call on UN to adopt bold ocean policies to combat climate and biodiversity threats

In the lead-up to the United Nations Ocean Conference that opens today in France, scientists released ten policy recommendations urging world leaders to act swiftly on climate change, overfishing, and marine pollution based on existing scientific evidence.

Teresa Tomassoni reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
Green coral on a reef.

EU ocean protection plan draws fire for weak enforcement and lack of binding goals

Days before the United Nations Oceans Conference, the European Union unveiled a marine protection plan that environmental groups say fails to deliver meaningful safeguards for Europe’s seas.

Rosie Frost reports for Euronews.

Keep reading...Show less
Wildfire smoke in the distance with a forested hill in the foreground.

Wildfire smoke from Canada continues to choke U.S. cities as climate patterns worsen

A blanket of smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted into the U.S. Midwest last week, signaling another season of toxic air driven by rising global temperatures.

Scott Neuman reports for NPR.

Keep reading...Show less
factory during daytime with smoke billowing above farm crops.

EPA rollback plan threatens billions in savings and thousands of lives, analysis shows

The Trump administration’s proposed reversal of major U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pollution rules could lead to tens of thousands of premature deaths and erase hundreds of billions in annual health and climate benefits, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Seth Borenstein, M.K. Wildeman, Melina Walling, Joshua A. Bickel and Matthew Daly report for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
electric vehicle EV charging at a charging station.

New Trump administration rule weakens efforts to promote cleaner cars

The Trump administration just threw a wrench into Biden’s fuel efficiency plans, publishing a new rule that challenges how electric vehicles factor into federal standards.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

In short:

  • The U.S. Transportation Department issued a rule saying the Biden administration improperly used electric vehicles to calculate carmakers’ fuel economy standards.
  • While not eliminating Biden’s rules outright, the administration suggested it may not enforce them during its own rulemaking process, arguing the current standards are akin to an EV mandate.
  • The move undercuts one of Biden’s core climate strategies and could reduce pressure on automakers to improve efficiency — unless U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules, which Republicans are also trying to reverse, stay intact.

Why this matters:

Fuel efficiency rules are one of the federal government’s main tools to cut transportation emissions — the top source of greenhouse gases in the U.S. While this new rule doesn’t outright kill the fuel economy standards, it signals the administration likely won’t enforce them while it writes its own version.

Read more: The role of electric vehicles in the push for environmental justice

Electric vehicle being charged.

Move to revoke California EV rules threatens state authority on clean air

Electric vehicle mandates in California and 11 other states face rollback after a Senate vote backed by President Trump, raising legal questions and potentially slowing the nation’s transition away from fossil fuels.

Francine Kiefer reports for The Christian Science Monitor.

Keep reading...Show less
white wind turbines on golden field under blue and white sunny cloudy sky during daytime.

Repealing clean energy incentives could cost families hundreds more in utility bills

A Republican-backed bill aiming to roll back the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy support would increase average household energy costs by $250 to $415 annually, according to multiple policy analyses.

Naveena Sadasivam reports for Grist.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.