COVID-19 and climate change: an integrated perspective

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ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 outbreak has revealed multiple vulnerabilities in community systems. Effectively addressing these vulnerabilities and increasing local resilience requires thinking beyond solely pandemic responses and taking more holistic perspectives that integrate sustainability objectives. Pandemic preparedness and climate action in particular share similarities in terms of needs and approaches for community sustainability. This paper reflects on what the outbreak has illustrated regarding community vulnerability to crises, with a focus on local economy and production, economic diversification, and social connectivity. The paper argues for integrated approaches to community development that increase our capacity to respond to both public health and climate crises.

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© Robert Newell 2021. Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• climate change
• integrated strategies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert Newell

Dr. Robert Newell works at the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley (B.C., Canada), and is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University (BC, Canada). He teaches courses on critical sustainability issues, particularly climate change and biodiversity loss, and approaches to sustainable community development. Newell’s research focuses on integrated community sustainability planning, and he explores tools for supporting local planning and decision-making, such as systems models and visualizations.

Ann Dale

Prof. Ann Dale is a Professor in the School of the Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University (B.C., Canada). She previously held the Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Community Development (2004–2014), and is a Trudeau Fellow Alumna (2004). Dale has explored numerous topics related to sustainable community development, including local climate action, sustainable infrastructure, social capital and agency, and factors that contributes to community vitality.