Respiratory Relief through Circular Economy
Part of the Community Resilience in Times of Crisis Series
By Justin Lindemann, NCSU Master of International Studies student
The world is currently facing a global pandemic with the emergence of SARS-COV-2, the type of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. While this may be a new scenario for most people, it unfortunately may not be the last time we experience a pandemic in our lifetime. SARS-COV-2 is a zoonotic disease — a disease spread from animals to humans. Due to several factors, zoonotic diseases are on the rise; 3 out of every 4 emerging infectious diseases in people comes from animals. Past examples of zoonotic diseases include the Plague, SARS, Ebola, Zika Virus, and H1N1.
Photo of New Delhi, India on November 19th, 2019 (Left) and March 30th, 2020 (Right)
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/22/world/air-pollution-reduction-cities-coronavirus-intl-hnk/index.html
As for the current pandemic (SARS-COV-2), a recent Harvard study has shown that even small increases in long-term exposure to air pollution lead to large increases in COVID-19 deaths. This means that places with worse air pollution have worse outcomes for COVID-19. This is because air pollution can damage our lungs, worsen pre-existing respiratory issues, and cause asthma, thus creating a higher risk of severe illness and/or death for those impacted.
The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area has considerable issues when it comes to air pollution. Recent data from 2018 showing that Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh experienced enough days of elevated levels of air pollution (ozone and/or air particulates) to equal about two to three months out of the year. The poor air quality shows a possible weakness in defending ourselves against current and future pandemics.
Sources of air pollution vary from mobile (cars, buses, etc.) to stationary (smokestacks, factories etc.). In China for example, the biggest source of air pollution impacting cities comes from burning coal, due to the nation’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel as an energy supplier. In the Triangle, the primary source of air pollution is traffic.
To strengthen the area against a future pandemic and lower the health risks, we need to reduce air pollution. We can achieve this goal through circular economy practices which design out waste and pollution.
There are several ways to reach that goal through a circular economy, including:
Chicago City Hall green roof. Photo courtesy Conservation Design Forum, The Cultural Landscape Foundation
Transitioning the Triangle’s remaining fossil fuel power plants to renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) and increasing the implementation of such energy. This includes the installation of urban renewable projects.
Prioritize biking and walking as modes of transportation, including re-designating existing roads as pedestrian friendly. Given that people who are able to work from home may want to continue to do so because of SARS-COV-2, Triangle cities and towns can use the opportunity to rethink our car-centric cities.
Designate certain areas as low emission zones where high polluting vehicles, such as diesel trucks, are regulated to protect the air quality and health of nearby residents.
Transforming old and new buildings into zero net energy (ZNE) buildings, which are buildings that produce enough energy from renewable sources to meet consumption needs. This reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and decreases air pollution from building energy consumption.
Incorporate plant life into the construction of new buildings and retrofitted old buildings so that our buildings are like trees that actively clean the air around it and create oxygen.
Incorporating more plant life into urban planning, like planting more trees along roads to soak up excess emissions and provide a cooling effect.
By integrating these and many other practices, we can move closer to and achieve a circular economy and create a community that is healthier in facing current and future pandemics.
