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Afterward: COVID-19 and the Environment

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Abstract

The editors’ final preparation of this volume took place in the spring and summer of 2020—during, that is, the unprecedented global pandemic of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and acute respiratory disease COVID-19. As the world gradually shut down, as schools, factories, and restaurants, first in East Asia, then Europe, then North America, Africa, South Asia, Oceania, and South America, all closed or dramatically pivoted to online operations, an early ray of light, of perhaps desperately sought for hope, was the temporary abatement of pollution due to industry, commuting, and tourist travel. The Himalayas were suddenly visible from Punjab rooftops, NASA reported that pollution in China had plummeted, and deer were spotted wandering down city streets. Furthermore, as governments responded to COVID-19 with huge outlays of social programs and quickly moved to support industries and communities in need, activists pointed out that such state actions demonstrated the resurgent possibilities for Keynesian public outlays.

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