Affiliations 

  • 1 NUST Business School (NBS), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
  • 2 School of Economics, Finance & Banking, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, Sintok, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, ON, Waterloo, Canada. qalamin@uwaterloo.ca
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Mar;29(11):16739-16748.
PMID: 34989992 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18402-5

Abstract

Pandemics leave their mark quickly. This is true for all pandemics, including COVID-19. Its multifarious presence has wreaked havoc on people's physical, economic, and social life since late 2019. Despite the need for social science to save lives, it is also critical to ensure future generations are protected. COVID-19 appeared as the world grappled with the epidemic of climate change. This study suggests policymakers and practitioners address climate change and COVID-19 together. This article offers a narrative review of both pandemics' impacts. Scopus and Web of Science were sought databases. The findings are reported analytically using important works of contemporary social theorists. The analysis focuses on three interconnected themes: technology advancements have harmed vulnerable people; pandemics have macro- and micro-dimensions; and structural disparities. To conclude, we believe that collaborative effort is the key to combating COVID-19 and climate change, while understanding the lessons learnt from the industrialised world. Finally, policymakers can decrease the impact of global catastrophes by addressing many socioeconomic concerns concurrently.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.