Published in Foreign Policy In Focus

Daniel Wilkinson, Acting Director, Environment and Human Rights

Luciana Téllez Chávez, Researcher, Environment and Human Rights Division@lucianatellez

Satellite images showing dramatic drops in air pollution in coronavirus hotspots around the globe have circulated widely on social media, offering a silver lining to an otherwise very dark story. But they are also a graphic reminder of the climate crisis that will continue when the pandemic passes.

When the lockdowns are lifted and life returns to what it once was, so too will the pollution that clouds the skies and with it the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming.

In fact, the rebound could be even worse.