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How ( Un )sustainable Environments Are Related to the Diffusion of COVID-19: The Relation between Coronavirus Disease 2019, Air Pollution, Wind Resource and Energy

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  • Mario Coccia

    (CNR—National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth, Collegio Carlo Alberto, Via Real Collegio, 30-10024 Moncalieri (Torino), Italy)

Abstract

The pandemic caused by novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generating a high number of cases and deaths, with negative effects on public health and economic systems. One of the current questions in the contemporary environmental and sustainability debate is how high air pollution and reduced use of renewable energy can affect the diffusion of COVID-19. This study endeavors to explain the relation between days of air pollution, wind resources and energy, and the diffusion of COVID-19 to provide insights into sustainable policy to prevent future epidemics. The statistical analysis here focuses on a case study of Italy, one of the first countries to experience a rapid increase in confirmed cases and deaths. The results reveal two main findings: (1) cities with high wind speed and high wind energy production have a lower number of cases of COVID-19 in the context of a more sustainable environment; (2) cities located in hinterland zones with high air pollution, low wind speed and less wind energy production have a greater number of cases and total deaths. The results presented here suggest that the pandemic caused by novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and future epidemics similar to COVID-19 cannot be solved only with research in medicine but the solution also needs advanced capabilities and technologies for supporting sustainable development based on the reduction of air pollution and increase of production in renewable energy to improve air quality and as a consequence public health.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Coccia, 2020. "How ( Un )sustainable Environments Are Related to the Diffusion of COVID-19: The Relation between Coronavirus Disease 2019, Air Pollution, Wind Resource and Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9709-:d:448608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mario COCCIA, 2017. "The Fishbone diagram to identify, systematize and analyze the sources of general purpose technologies," Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, KSP Journals, vol. 4(4), pages 291-303, December.
    2. Coccia, Mario, 2016. "The relation between price setting in markets and asymmetries of systems of measurement of goods," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 14(PB), pages 168-178.
    3. Coccia, Mario, 2019. "Why do nations produce science advances and new technology?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    4. Coccia, Mario, 2020. "Deep learning technology for improving cancer care in society: New directions in cancer imaging driven by artificial intelligence," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Ferrannini, Andrea & Barbieri, Elisa & Biggeri, Mario & Di Tommaso, Marco R., 2021. "Industrial policy for sustainable human development in the post-Covid19 era," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    6. Mario COCCIA, 2018. "The origins of the economics of Innovation," Journal of Economic and Social Thought, KSP Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 9-28, March.
    7. Yang Ou & J. Jason West & Steven J. Smith & Christopher G. Nolte & Daniel H. Loughlin, 2020. "Air pollution control strategies directly limiting national health damages in the US," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Mario COCCIA, 2018. "Theorem of not independence of any technological innovation," Journal of Economics Bibliography, KSP Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 29-35, March.
    9. Mario Coccia, 2017. "Sources of disruptive technologies for industrial change," L'industria, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 97-120.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhengrong Jiang & Weijun Gao, 2021. "Impact of Enclosure Boundary Patterns and Lift-Up Design on Optimization of Summer Pedestrian Wind Environment in High-Density Residential Districts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Saima Abdul Jabbar & Laila Tul Qadar & Sulaman Ghafoor & Lubna Rasheed & Zouina Sarfraz & Azza Sarfraz & Muzna Sarfraz & Miguel Felix & Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda, 2022. "Air Quality, Pollution and Sustainability Trends in South Asia: A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Melika Mosleh & Saeed Roshani & Mario Coccia, 2022. "Scientific laws of research funding to support citations and diffusion of knowledge in life science," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(4), pages 1931-1951, April.
    4. Mario Coccia, 2021. "Evolution and structure of research fields driven by crises and environmental threats: the COVID-19 research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(12), pages 9405-9429, December.
    5. Mario Coccia, 2023. "COVID-19 Vaccination is not a Sufficient Public Policy to face Crisis Management of next Pandemic Threats," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1353-1367, December.
    6. Pilar Mercader-Moyano & Ana Mª Estable-Reifs & Homero Pellicer, 2021. "Toward the Renewal of the Sustainable Urban Indicators’ System after a Global Health Crisis. Practical Application in Granada, Spain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-43, September.
    7. Toshiyuki Sueyoshi & Youngbok Ryu & Ji-Young Yun, 2021. "COVID-19 Response and Prospects of Clean/Sustainable Energy Transition in Industrial Nations: New Environmental Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-30, February.

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