There is a good article in The Hill about what can we learn from COVID-19 and Climate Change about saving lives. It is written by Mona Sarfaty and Richard Carmona. (Sarfaty is the founder of the Medical Consortium on Climate and Health, Carmona is a former Surgeon General appointed in 2002.)
In the article, Sarfaty and Carmona discuss how COVID-19 shows us the dangers of ignoring science and health experts, and it exposes vulnerabilities in our public health and health care systems. Climate is just as much of a crisis, and it is just as dangerous to ignore science and health experts warnings about climate change as it is COVID-19.
Strong public health systems are needed for both COVID-19 and Climate Change. Governments must be transparent, and government and industries must not downplay risks. Both crises are international, do not respect borders, and have the most impact on those who are already disadvantaged and disenfranchised. Both require cooperative action across cultures, geographies and governments to address the crises.
The authors state: “an ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.” This is true for both COVID-19 and climate change. We can build a stronger, sounder, cleaner economy and energy system, and it will address climate change, keep us healthier, and be more just.
Please read this very sound article in The Hill.
