Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted human life in a variety of ways, but its effect on human health and short-term air pollution has shown the world its actions in exacerbating climate change have brought dangerous side effects. If the world continues releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere, humans will likely face more introductions of infectious diseases and drastic environmental changes. Those already living in areas of poor air quality were more likely to die from COVID-19, and this only emphasizes widespread environmental racism. The few months of mass quarantines across the planet in the spring of 2020 resulted in the relief of pollutants usually emitted from industry and transportation, and these short-term changes are a wake-up call to the world to alter its economy to support sustainability and prevent future generations from facing worse conditions.
