This document summarizes a presentation on research priorities for investigating the connections between COVID-19, the environment, and health. It introduces the HERA project, which aims to develop a European research agenda on these topics. The presentation outlines three main research goals: examining environmental drivers of SARS-CoV-2 emergence and spread; understanding the health impacts of COVID-19 in relation to environmental stressors like climate change and air pollution; and analyzing the integrated socioeconomic, political, and health implications of COVID-19 and different intervention strategies.

1. • Welcome to the El Dia Después session
• HERA : develop a European research and innovation agenda on environment,
climate and health 2020-2030
• Interim agenda with 6 Research Goals at https://www.heraresearcheu.eu/
• But that was El Dia Antes
• HERA-COVID: research on COVID and Environment and Health
• Keep the Green Deal and SDGs alive

2. The Year After
Introduction and presentation of priorities in research
on covid-19 and the environment (EU HERA project)
Manolis Kogevinas, MD, PhD
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Scientific Director, Severo Ochoa/ISGlobal
Cathryn Tonne, ISGlobal

3. • The Day After (El Dia Después in Spanish), multi-stakeholder initiative
promoting the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Four organizations: REDS/SDSN, itdUPM (Innovation and Technology for
Development Center-UPM), ISGlobal and Iberdrola (plus around 50 more
signing in as collaborators)
• Open tool, enabling massive collaborations (scientific community, companies,
public administration, third sector and citizens), generates proposals that arise
from collective intelligence and promotes action
• Four thematic communities:
• environment and health
• sustainable cities
• inequalities and new economic models
• international cooperation

5. What is the connection between
climate change, loss of biodiversity
and habitat, human infringements
on nature and ?

6. Is mortality from Covid-19 comparable to
potential increased mortality from the
effects of the lockdown on the economy?

7. Response: No
Mortality from Covid-19 can be expected
to be higher
but…
Is mortality from Covid-19 comparable to
potential increased mortality from the
effects of the lockdown on the economy?

8. Mortality in men in Russia (top) and
Belarus, 1990s (Stuckler, Lancet, 2009)

9. Eurostat 45/2014
Life expectancy and GDP per capita in PPS,
2012, European countries

10. Response: No. Mortality from Covid-19 can
be expected to be higher
provided
• The economic crisis is not catastrophic
• There exists a basic welfare state
• Social inequalities are not extreme
Is mortality from Covid-19 comparable to
potential increased mortality from the
effects of the lockdown on the economy?

11. Bangladeshis attempt to rebuild a flood barrier
destroyed by Cyclone Aila in 2009
Espen Rasmussen/Panos

12. Bangladeshis attempt to rebuild a flood barrier
destroyed by Cyclone Aila in 2009
Espen Rasmussen/Panos

13. https://www.heraresearcheu.eu/

14. Report to the EU – HERA Project
Research needs on Covid-19/Environment & Health nexus
• Research goal 1: Environmental drivers of SARS-cov2
emergence and spread
• Research goal 2: Health impact of COVID-19 and
environmental stressors
• Research goal 3: Integrated socio-economic, political and
health implications of COVID-19 and intervention strategies
• Research goals on the interlinkages of global environmental
change and the emergence and impact of the COVID-19
pandemic (to be completed) https://www.heraresearcheu.eu/

15. Research goal 2: Health impact of COVID-19 and
environmental stressors
• Understanding the population burden and identifying
populations at risk - Harmonizing cohort studies and
surveys across the EU
• COVID-19 and Climate change impacts
• COVID-19 and air pollution
• COVID-19 and toxicants
• Social economic and psychological impacts of COVID-19.
• Integrated Health Impact assessment

16. Research goal 3: Integrated socio-economic, political and
health implications of COVID-19 and intervention strategies
• Impacts of intervention strategies and physical
distancing
• Interaction between COVID-19 and the built
environment.
• COVID-19 and the work environment.
• Implementation research of integrated social, economic,
and environmental policies.
• Political implications balancing economic and
environmental strategies.
https://www.heraresearcheu.eu/