What the Coronavirus can teach us about the Environment

‍Environmental pollution greatly increases the risk of death from Coronavirus. Practical solutions are at hand, and would save millions of lives.

While the health and economic effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) cause the entire world to stagger, an unintended consequence gives us some idea of how our society, health, and environment would benefit from an economy and society based on clean energy and low emissions. 

8 million pre-mature deaths each year

The World Health Organization (WHO) is on the front lines of battling the coronavirus, which will likely kill millions of people over the years.  However, WHO research confirms that ambient (outdoor) air pollution is a far more dangerous and efficient killer, prematurely claiming many more lives than the novel virus each year, about 4.2 million globally.  Then there’s indoor (household) air pollution, primarily resulting from burning wood, coal, and dung for heat and cooking.  Indoor air pollution kills nearly another 4 million people each year.  Total pre-mature deaths caused by air pollution each year: 8 million. These are only the deaths; long-term health problems among survivors easily surpass these figures.  These numbers are truly staggering, and yet few people know or understand the degree to which they’re affected.

9 out of 10 people

According to WHO, 90% of the world’s population live in an area in which air quality exceeds standard limits of healthful exposure.  Each day, billions of people, likely including yourself, inhale harmful particles emitted from cars, factories, and many other sources.  Each day, slowly, these particles build up in your body, affecting your lungs, heart, and health in general.  It’s a slow and invisible killer, and the symptoms often don’t appear for years, sometimes decades.  

60+ age group most at risk

The death rates of the coronavirus on those 60 years or older are particularly high, especially on those with pre-existing respiratory issues.  It’s even reasonable to assume that many of the pre-existing health conditions were caused by air pollution.  This study in April 2020 shows that the very high mortality rate of the coronavirus in northern Italy is correlated to environmental pollution in the region.  Furthermore, during the 2003 SARS outbreak in China, caused by a similar coronavirus, residents of areas with the highest levels of environmental air pollution were twice as likely to die as those who lived in places with lower level.  

According to a study published in 2018 in Cardiovascular Research, the death rates from environmental air pollution are also high in the same age group, comprising 75% of the total deaths.  The younger generations are still vulnerable however, with the likelihood of death dramatically increasing around the age of 25. 

Age distribution of excess mortality from ambient air pollution

(Source:  Loss of life expectancy from air pollution compared to other risk factors: a worldwide perspective, January 2020.)

A pandemic

The authors of this study label air pollution a “pandemic”, years before the coronavirus hit, and stated that “fossil fuel combustion byproducts are the world’s most significant threat to children’s health and future…”.  With deaths caused by environmental air pollution outnumbering deaths caused by tobacco smoking, it’s easy to see why the authors call it a pandemic.   

A Dose of Medicine

Many of the images speak for themselves…  just look at the difference in air quality in China, India, and all other countries and cities throughout the world.  It unfortunately took a pandemic to force us to shut down a massive portion of our industrialized economy, and realize some of the damage that we’ve caused.  While this gave our environment a brief respite and chance to slightly recover, it will be only a matter of a few short months before our factories and oil-burning vehicles are back to business-as-usual; the air and water to become murky once again.  Hopefully these moments and images of clear air are seared into the minds of billions around the globe.  Hopefully each of us will think twice about our choices that led to those conditions in the first place.  Even a small choice, made a billion times over, can make a dramatic improvement.  

We can make the clean air and water permanent, give our environment a chance to recover, and enjoy a robust economy at the same time.  Solar energy, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency are part of that economy, and make complete sense on all levels.  Economic, environmental, and health..  all play into how our society flourishes.    

Why, then, would we not put more effort into controlling and reducing air pollution?

Personally, I think the partial answer is somewhat simple:  we don’t like to change.  We like the routine of stopping at the gas station to fill up our cars.  We don’t really care where our electricity comes from, as long as my cell phone is charged and my TV turns on.  In short, we often don’t have the motivation.  Another problem is that the symptoms aren’t obvious.  With the coronavirus and other viruses that show symptoms within days, we’d have vaccines and cures to quickly address the illness.  With air pollution, there is no quick fix, vaccination, or pill we can take.  

The cure is already here

The hysteria surrounding the coronavirus caused world governments to throw trillions of dollars at uncertain methods of merely trying to slow the progress of the illness and mitigate long-term economic damage.  However, far more effective than a “vaccine”, there are already proven and practical “cures” for the environmental pollution pandemic.  Cures that won’t cause mass panic, but rather put everyone at ease.

To start, we’re talking about a few simple decisions regarding things you use every day.  Have you ever driven an electric vehicle?  It’s great, and an amazing departure from polluting, noisy, and less-powerful gasoline-combustion vehicles!  Or what about solar energy for your house or place of business?  Wouldn’t you rather know that your electricity is coming from the sun, rather than generated by burning coal or natural gas, or from a radioactive source?  Charging your electric vehicle with solar energy is the ultimate way to go.  Even when the price of oil dropped to historic lows in March, 2020, it was cheaper to charge an electric vehicle with solar than it was to fill up with gasoline. Solar energy is cheaper than what you pay your electric utility, and electric vehicles are now the same price as conventional vehicles.  It’s easy to make the transition.

YOU can save lives by making the Transition            

With these benefits and more, it’s clear to see why society is now making the transition from harmful energy sources to clean, cheap, and healthy energy.  So start now, and make the transition along with us.  For a free evaluation of your electricity bills, and to determine whether solar energy is a good solution for your home or place of business, click here.