The impact of COVID-19 and natural disasters on water consumption across sectors: case studies of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago

The Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable to natural hazards, particularly hydroclimatic and, in some cases, geological. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of complexity to the already disruptive risk profiles of these countries. Understanding how these hazards, both individually and cumulatively, impact sectors, particularly essential sectors such as the water sector, is crucial. This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on water consumption along with concurrent natural hazards in two Caribbean countries: Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. The assessment indicated a marked influence on consumption levels in various sectors consistent with imposed public health restrictions. In the case of Barbados, monthly consumption decreased during the pandemic across all categories when compared to the pre-Covid period, except for residential consumption, which increased by approximately 9%. For Trinidad and Tobago, a decrease in average monthly water consumption across all categories, ranging from 3% to 13% was noted. Although available data did not permit conclusive analysis, we have discerned some general trends, identified gaps, and provided recommendations. Our findings can provide useful guidance for water utilities in the region to better understand consumer behaviour and address demand and supply issues. © 2023 The Authors.

CHALLENGES AND INNOVATIONS IN FIELD EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED STATES

COVID-19 had an immediate impact on students undertaking professional placements. From this crisis came opportunities and challenges forcing the creation of new scenarios to enable students to achieve competencies and complete placements. Social work professional bodies responded flexibly supporting field education innovations. Using examples from four universities, located in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, this chapter discusses the impact on students and new practices arising from crisis. A key issue remains in how the profession can take lessons learned from this pandemic to preparedness planning with governments, educational institutions and agencies in readiness for the next health emergency. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Patricia Fronek and Karen Smith Rotabi-Casares;individual chapters, the contributors.

REGIONS OF THE WORLD AND THE COVID-19 HEALTH EMERGENCY

Chapter 2 takes readers on a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic, a period shaped by vastly different approaches between and within countries ranging from denial, mitigation to suppression. Some countries had to deal with major weather events and other disasters while also managing the health emergency. The ideologies of governments came to the fore influencing whether health or economies were prioritised, the science was accepted, and whether approaches were informed by individualism or collective responsibility. The first six months of the pandemic highlighted vast inequalities and established the global conditions for the emergence of new variants. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Patricia Fronek and Karen Smith Rotabi-Casares;individual chapters, the contributors.

Global patterns of daily CO2 emissions reductions in the first year of COVID-19

Observed daily changes in CO2 emissions from across the globe reveal the sectors and countries where pandemic-related emissions declines were most pronounced in 2020. Day-to-day changes in CO2 emissions from human activities, in particular fossil-fuel combustion and cement production, reflect a complex balance of influences from seasonality, working days, weather and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we provide a daily CO2 emissions dataset for the whole year of 2020, calculated from inventory and near-real-time activity data. We find a global reduction of 6.3% (2,232 MtCO(2)) in CO2 emissions compared with 2019. The drop in daily emissions during the first part of the year resulted from reduced global economic activity due to the pandemic lockdowns, including a large decrease in emissions from the transportation sector. However, daily CO2 emissions gradually recovered towards 2019 levels from late April with the partial reopening of economic activity. Subsequent waves of lockdowns in late 2020 continued to cause smaller CO2 reductions, primarily in western countries. The extraordinary fall in emissions during 2020 is similar in magnitude to the sustained annual emissions reductions necessary to limit global warming at 1.5 degrees C. This underscores the magnitude and speed at which the energy transition needs to advance.

Treatment strategies for postviral olfactory dysfunction: A systematic review.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with a dramatic increase in postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) among patients who are infected. A contemporary evidence-based review of current treatment options for PVOD is both timely and relevant to improve patient care. Objective: This review seeks to impact patient care by qualitatively reviewing available evidence in support of medical and procedural treatment options for PVOD. Systematic evaluation of data quality and of the level of evidence was completed to generate current treatment recommendations. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify primary studies that evaluated treatment outcomes for PVOD. A number of medical literature data bases were queried from January 1998 to May 2020, with completion of subsequent reference searches of retrieved articles to identify all relevant studies. Validated tools for the assessment of bias among both interventional and observational studies were used to complete quality assessment. The summary level of evidence and associated outcomes were used to generate treatment recommendations. Results: Twenty-two publications were identified for qualitative review. Outcomes of alpha-lipoic acid, intranasal and systemic corticosteroids, minocycline, zinc sulfate, vitamin A, sodium citrate, caroverine, intranasal insulin, theophylline, and Gingko biloba are reported. In addition, outcomes of traditional Chinese acupuncture and olfactory training are reviewed. Conclusion: Several medical and procedural treatments may expedite the return of olfactory function after PVOD. Current evidence supports olfactory training as a first-line intervention. Additional study is required to define specific treatment recommendations and expected outcomes for PVOD in the setting of COVID-19.

Successful retreatment of CLL with venetoclax following clonal evolution during 37 months of tirabrutinib and idelalisib

The BCL2-specific inhibitor, venetoclax, has demonstrated remarkable clinical activity in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), either alone or in combination with CD20 antibodies. Nevertheless, patients who fail to attain a complete remission relapse, and require further therapy. Data on retreatment with venetoclax at disease progression are currently limited. Here, we report patterns of clonal evolution in an R/R CLL patient that has demonstrated successful retreatment. A 57 year-old lady with chemotherapy- refractory (FCR, RCHOP, high dose methyl prednisolone) TP53 mutant CLL was treated for 21 months with single-agent venetoclax in 2014 (NCT01889186). She attained an MRD positive CR with the resolution of massive lymphadenopathy and with only low-level (0.01%) disease in the bone marrow. However, she subsequently progressed rapidly with a lymphocyte doubling time of only 4 weeks and was treated with tirabrutinib and idelalisib in combination (NCT02968563) from December 2015 for 37 months before progressing December 2019. She was retreated with venetoclax and rituximab but died of COVID-19-induced respiratory failure in March 2020. To study the clonal evolution underlying these events, in vitro drug sensitivity assays and whole exome sequencing (WES) were used to study peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) and bone marrow samples. WES of sample 1 showed multiple mutations in CLL driver genes: SF3B1 R625C, KMT2C R4434Q, and TP53 R110L at VAFs of 37, 17, 35%, respectively. Mutations in other genes associated with CLL included FANCA L217F (47%) and SPEN P3402S (46%). At disease progression (sample 2), following venetoclax, there was the loss of detectable (WES at 100× coverage) TP53 R110L (with loss of 17p deletion on interphase FISH and analysis of copy number) but maintenance of SF3B1 R625C (44%), KMT2C R4434Q 30%), FANCA L217F (47%), and SPEN P3402S (55%). These data, therefore, suggest the TP53 mutant subclone was largely lost during therapy. No other mutations were identified as possible resistance mediators. There were no detectable BCL2 mutations. In vitro drug sensitivity testing to venetoclax showed an EC50 of 228nM (CLL EC50 usually 3-5 nM). The patient was then treated with the BTK inhibitor tirabrutinib in combination with idelalisib, with an excellent clinical response. After 10 months (sample 3, during the lymphocytosis induced by BTKi/PI3Kdi) SF3B1, KMT2C, FANCA, and SPEN mutations were detected at VAFs of 26, 30, 54, and 56%, respectively. At this point the TP53 R110L mutation was detected again at a VAF of 4%, indicating that stopping venetoclax allowed the clone to re-emerge. At this time, there were no detectable BTK or PLCG2 mutations. The patient then responded for a further 37 months before disease progression. At progression (sample 4), SF3B1, KMT2C, FANCA, and SPEN mutations were still detected in the peripheral blood at VAFs of 43, 31, 48, and 50%, respectively. The VAF of the TP53 R110L mutation had increased to 33%. Additionally, a BTK mutation (T474I) was identified with a VAF of 16%. Identical results were obtained using a bone marrow sample. Now, however, in vitro analysis demonstrated a high degree of sensitivity to venetoclax (EC50 0.72 nM). The patient was, therefore, retreated with venetoclax and rituximab. At the point of re-treatment, VAFs were maintained, with the emergence of a new subclonal NOTCH1 G1001D mutation at a VAF of 3%. The patient, unfortunately, died 4 months after commencing therapy due to COVID-19 associated pneumonitis. A full disease reassessment was not made but the patient's blood count had normalized, with rapid clearance of CLL cells from the peripheral blood, recovery of normal hematological indices, resolution of splenomegaly, and partial resolution of lymphadenopathy on CT scan. These data, therefore, suggest that re-treatment with venetoclax in CLL can be successful. Regaining sensitivity to venetoclax may largely depend on shifting clonal dynamics. The molecular basis of venetoclax resistance in this case is currently being investigated. A so in this particular case, it appears that the TP53 mutant subclone was more sensitive to BCL2 inhibition than TP53 wild-type subclone(s), and was largely eliminated by initial venetoclax treatment, contrasting with recently published data suggesting resistance of TP53 mutant hematological malignancies to BCL2 inhibition due to increased thresholds for BAX/BAK activation (Thijssen et al., 2021).

Global fossil carbon emissions rebound near pre-COVID-19 levels

Fossil CO2 emissions in 2021 grew an estimated 4.2% (3.5%–4.8%) to 36.2 billion metric tons compared with 2020, pushing global emissions back close to 2019 levels (36.7 Gt CO2).

IMPACT-ReCaP: Rectal cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose/Background: With enhanced strain on healthcare systems and avoidance of routine surgery and systemic therapy during the COVID-19 period due to increased morbidity and mortality alternative oncological approaches have been employed. We aimed to determine the variation in strategies adopted nationally across the United Kingdom (UK) and long-term associated outcomes. Methods/Interventions: A UK multi-centre prospective observational study was performed from the date of National Governmental lockdown (23/3/20) until the lifting of restrictions (17/5/21). Patients with a new diagnosis of rectal cancer or those rediscussed at MDT on an existing treatment pathway were eligible for inclusion. Results/Outcomes: The first 900 patients were reported from 70 registered sites;65.4% male, 73.6% >60 years old. 62.4% of patients were diagnosed following lockdown. 65.8% of MDTs had a partial or entirely virtual format. 22.8% of tumours were T4, with 4.3% local recurrence. Following lockdown there was a significant increase in the use of SCRT + delay from 10.0% to 18.7% (p < 0.0005), with a rate of 26.7% during the first wave. Comparably the rate of LCRT fell 53.3% to 18.0% (p < 0.0001). 86.2% of those undergoing surgery during the first wave had stoma formation, 26.0% of which due to COVID-19 concerns alone. 18.6% of patients were deemed to have received different management plans due to COVID-19. Conclusion/Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to variation in oncological treatment strategies for rectal cancer, most notably an increase in the use of SCRT radiotherapy, deferral of surgery and stoma formation. Whilst short-term data appears to suggest equivalence in outcomes compared to LCRT, caution needs to be shown whilst awaiting longer-term outcomes and ensuring robust follow up and safety netting to avoid long term harm.

An Outline of the Story of Girls in Control and its Success in Motivating Girls Internationally

Gender stereotypes often deter women from pursuing STEM-related studies at secondary and tertiary levels of education. Control engineering in particular is an example of a discipline where women are underrepresented in all stages of academia;from undergraduate students through to faculty and technical board members. The Girls in Control workshop targets 10-to-15-year-old girls and aims to educate them about control engineering at a level that is understandable and engaging to stimulate an interest in STEM. Moreover, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic resulted in new and innovative ways of collaborating and designing outreach programs. The Girls in Control workshop uses online platforms to provide accessibility to girls worldwide by removing language barriers. The workshop runs in almost 20 different languages and materials are openly available online. The Girls in Control workshop ran successfully at the 21st World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control 2020, the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control 2020, the 2021 American control conference, and the 29th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation 2021;all of which ran on virtual platforms. Overall, over 500 girls have participated in the Girls in Control workshops in 19 languages with a large amount of positive feedback. A more advanced, follow-up workshop is being tested where girls are challenged further by tackling problems with disturbances and requiring complex control solutions. Copyright (C) 2021 The Authors.

Clinical course and outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients with covid-19

Purpose: We characterized the outcomes of COVID-19 in our population of solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). Since these individuals are immunocompromised, with multiple comorbidities, we hypothesized that they would be at increased risk of COVID-19 related complications and manifest delayed viral clearance. Methods: A single-center retrospective chart review was conducted of all COVID-19 positive SOTRs in our hospital system from March to November 2020. Variables of interest included demographic data, clinical course, virologic assays, clinical suspicion for graft dysfunction, and biopsy results. Re-admissions within 60 days of discharge were recorded, as were persisting positive SARS-CoV2 PCR tests >4 weeks from initial diagnosis. Results: We identified 60 SOTRs who tested positive for COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal swab PCR. This included 40 renal, 17 liver, and 9 heart, lung, pancreas, or small bowel transplant recipients (“other”). 7 patients had received dual organs. 66.6% were men and 63% African American. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (88%), chronic kidney disease as defined by an abnormal Cr (68%), diabetes (50%), and obesity defined by BMI >30 (33%). Forty patients required hospitalization, with a median 6.5-day length of stay. 15 were admitted to an ICU, including 8 who required mechanical ventilation and 3 who required oxygen via high flow nasal cannula. Other outcomes are summarized in the Table. The readmission rate was high, and a 9.3% mortality rate was found in non-liver transplant recipients. In general, immunosuppression management consisted of antimetabolite and calcineurin inhibitor dose reduction. However, graft rejection was not proven on biopsy, despite being suspected in 3 cases (2 kidney, 1 liver). Conclusions: COVID-19 in SOTRs results in higher rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and death, as compared to reported outcomes in the general population. Our series showed clinical variability depending on type of organ transplant, with worse outcomes in non-liver transplant recipients. As we move toward the approval and distribution of effective vaccines, it is important to recognize that SOTRs represent a group that is particularly vulnerable to this virus, and would benefit from early access to preventive strategies.

Efficacy of topical antimicrobial prophylaxis for mucosal head and neck surgery: A meta-analysis

Introduction: We aim to understand the differences in surgical site infection (SSI) rates after major mucosal head and neck surgery between patients who received topical antimicrobial prophylaxis and those who did not. We recognize which topical antimicrobial treatments are available for mucosal application. We explain methods for designing a multicenter, prospective trial to determine whether topical antimicrobial prophylaxis should become standard of care for patients undergoing mucosal head and neck surgery. We believe this abstract deserves consideration for late-breaking status due to its novelty and interest to the larger otolaryngology community. Our institution has been recently interested in topical antimicrobials to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in health care settings. While we were studying the effects of topical antimicrobial prophylaxis applied intranasally on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in health care workers over the past several months, we decided to translate that work to assessing SSI rates after mucosal head and neck surgery. Before considering funding a multicenter prospective study on this topic, we proceeded with this systematic review and meta-analysis to help inform future trials. Our meta-analysis reveals a greater than 50% risk reduction in SSIs in patients who underwent perioperative topical antimicrobial therapy to the oral cavity and/or pharynx compared with patients who did not receive topical prophylaxis, which is both statistically significant and clinically meaningful. We believe these findings are pertinent to all otolaryngologists who perform mucosal surgery. Methods: A search of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov from inception to May 20, 2021, was performed. Clinical trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies with SSI rates of adults who underwent mucosal head and neck surgery and received perioperative topical antimicrobial therapy to the oral cavity and/or pharynx were included. Studies of dental procedures were excluded. Results: Of 265 unique citations, 9 studies were included. Topical treatments included clindamycin, tetracycline, piperacillintazobactam, ampicillin-carbenicillin, neomycin-erythromycin, mupirocin, and povidone-iodine. Pooled SSI rates of 252 patients with topical antimicrobial prophylaxis and 218 control patients without topical therapy were 8% (95% CI, 3%- 14%, I2 = 61.2%) and 29% (95% CI, 16%-43%, I2 = 79.5%), respectively. Another meta-analysis of 7 comparative studies totaling 192 topical therapy patients and 218 control patients revealed a pooled relative risk of 0.44 (95% CI, 0.28-0.68, I2 = 0.0%) in favor of the treatment group. Conclusion: Patients who underwent prophylactic topical antimicrobial therapy had less than half the risk of developing SSI after mucosal head and neck surgery compared with those who received no topical prophylaxis.

The post-pandemic future for people with a learning disability in England

The background to this study is the coronavirus pandemic and its implications for people with a learning disability in England. The study is a literature-based examination over a twenty-year period of the performance of successive governments in the provision of services for people with a learning disability. The study identifies several areas of concern: (a) the demonstrable lack of government commitment to people with a learning disability;(b) the ill-advised merger of health and social care sectors;(c) problems in the recruitment of sufficient staff for social care;and (d) the potentially deleterious impact of technology on the quality of life of people with a learning disability. The paper concludes by arguing for: (a) the re-instatement of a Ministry for Disability which is responsible solely for services for people with disabilities;(b) the establishment of a separate and appropriately funded national Department of Social Care;(c) a relaxation of immigration controls to permit recruitment of sufficient staff from EU and non-EU countries to the social care sector, and (d) effective systems put in place to monitor the application of technology in the social care sector.

NCI Awardee Skills Development Consortium (NASDC): Applicant profiles

Background: In 2020, the NCI funded a new educational consortium, NASDC (NCI Awardee Skills Development Consortium, RFA-CA-19-010 and -011), through four institutionally granted UE5 awards to deliver a specific course each and a U24 award as a Coordinating Center. The goal is to teach current early-career faculty NCI grantees skills in areas critical for successful independent academic cancer research careers. Courses focus on leadership and socioemotional skills, health disparities, immuno-oncology, and cell and gene therapy. Teaching will initially be virtual, given the COVID pandemic. Methods: A steering committee and four working groups were established to build the consortium infrastructure, including the NASDC (osu.edu) website. Clientele are early-career faculty PD/PI of a current NCI-funded grant (K01, K07, K08, K22, K23, K25, R00, R21, DP1, DP2, DP5, R01, R23, R29, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01), of whom 454 were directly contacted. Blast emails and social media were also used. We are reporting the characteristics of 154 applicants, who completed the RedCap application online. Results: 85% of the applicants are within the first 5 years of a faculty appointment, 87% at the assistant professor rank, and 65% on tenure track. 40% hold an M.D. degree and 72% a Ph.D. 81% are US citizens, 52% females, and 45/33/16/2/4%-11% are White/Asian/Black/Native Americans/Other-Hispanics/Latino. 76% work at NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers. Mean protected research time is 80%. Nonmutually exclusive fields of research interest are therapeutics (46%), basic science (37%), disparities (34%) prevention (32%), public health (28%), and pediatrics (10%). 66% have received a K-award grant, 13% each an R21 or R00, and 3% an R01. Additionally, 35% had a second NCI grant as PI, 10% a third grant, and 60% had non-NCI grants. Reasons for applying included (1) not quite ready to lead a research team (42%), (2) need for stronger career mentoring (37%), and (3) not being fully confident in research skills (21%). Conclusions: Applicants to the new NCI educational consortium (NASDC) have a successful start to their academic career with a third having obtained more than one NCI award. Most applicants work at NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers. As cancer research continues to evolve and has the potential to address critical health care needs of the nation, NASDC will strive to equip scientists to be leaders, teach advances in technology, and impart confidence in research skills.

Evaluation of oXiris in COVID-19 patients on VV-ECMO with AKI

Objective: COVID-19 caused many deaths through a dysregulated immune response contributing to multiorgan failure [1]. Patients with severe respiratory failure have required ECMO as a rescue therapy [2]. The oXiris adsorptive haemofilter has the capacity to adsorb cytokines while delivering continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) [3]. Therefore, patients with multi-organ failure secondary to COVID-19 could be managed with ECMO and haemoadsorptive therapy as a novel approach [4]. Minimal evidence currently exists of its effectiveness or safety. Our Objective therefore is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oXiris in COVID-19 patients on VV-ECMO with AKI. Methods: A single-site prospective observational case series was conducted from March to June 2020. Inclusion criteria were: COVID-19, age >18, VV-ECMO, CRRT and severe septic shock. Data was collected at baseline and over three successive oXiris filters. Data included vasopressor requirements, biochemical markers and vital signs. Variables at baseline and completion of therapy were compared using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, two-tailed p-values (significance p< 0.05). Results: Eight patients were included;7 males and 1 female with a mean age of forty-seven. None had preexisting renal disease and mean baseline creatinine on admission was 230 umol/L. Mean CRP was 252 mg/dL with a mean lactate of 3.12 mmol/L. The median vasopressin dose fell significantly from 0.02 units/min to 0.00 units/min (p = 0.031), median noradrenaline dose fell significantly from 0.23 mcg/kg/ min to 0.06 mcg/kg/min (p = 0.039) and median urine output significantly improved from 0 ml/day to 151 ml/day (p = 0.008). There were no adverse events reported. Conclusions: The use of oXiris adsorbent membrane in patients requiring VV-ECMO for COVID-19 with clinical evidence of a cytokine storm was safe, with no adverse events. There was also significant improvement of haemodynamic stability and initial renal recovery. Further evaluation through a large randomised control trial is warranted.

The COVID-19 lockdowns: a window into the Earth System

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial global impact. This Perspective provides insight into the environmental effects of the pandemic, documenting how it offers an opportunity to better understand the Earth System. Restrictions to reduce human interaction have helped to avoid greater suffering and death from the COVID-19 pandemic, but have also created socioeconomic hardship. This disruption is unprecedented in the modern era of global observing networks, pervasive sensing and large-scale tracking of human mobility and behaviour, creating a unique test bed for understanding the Earth System. In this Perspective, we hypothesize the immediate and long-term Earth System responses to COVID-19 along two multidisciplinary cascades: energy, emissions, climate and air quality;and poverty, globalization, food and biodiversity. While short-term impacts are dominated by direct effects arising from reduced human activity, longer-lasting impacts are likely to result from cascading effects of the economic recession on global poverty, green investment and human behaviour. These impacts offer the opportunity for novel insight, particularly with the careful deployment of targeted data collection, coordinated model experiments and solution-oriented randomized controlled trials, during and after the pandemic.

Fossil CO2 emissions in the post-COVID-19 era

Growth in CO2 emissions has slowed since the Paris Agreement 5 years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a drop in emissions of about 7% in 2020 relative to 2019, but strong policy is needed to address underlying drivers and to sustain a decline in global emissions beyond the current crisis. Five years after the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement, growth in global CO2 emissions has begun to falter. The pervasive disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic have radically altered the trajectory of global CO2 emissions. Contradictory effects of the post-COVID-19 investments in fossil fuel-based infrastructure and the recent strengthening of climate targets must be addressed with new policy choices to sustain a decline in global emissions in the post-COVID-19 era.

Ten new insights in climate science 2020- A horizon scan

Non-technical summary We summarize some of the past year's most important findings within climate change-related research. New research has improved our understanding of Earth's sensitivity to carbon dioxide, finds that permafrost thaw could release more carbon emissions than expected and that the uptake of carbon in tropical ecosystems is weakening. Adverse impacts on human society include increasing water shortages and impacts on mental health. Options for solutions emerge from rethinking economic models, rights-based litigation, strengthened governance systems and a new social contract. The disruption caused by COVID-19 could be seized as an opportunity for positive change, directing economic stimulus towards sustainable investments. Technical summary A synthesis is made of ten fields within climate science where there have been significant advances since mid-2019, through an expert elicitation process with broad disciplinary scope. Findings include: (1) a better understanding of equilibrium climate sensitivity;(2) abrupt thaw as an accelerator of carbon release from permafrost;(3) changes to global and regional land carbon sinks;(4) impacts of climate change on water crises, including equity perspectives;(5) adverse effects on mental health from climate change;(6) immediate effects on climate of the COVID-19 pandemic and requirements for recovery packages to deliver on the Paris Agreement;(7) suggested long-term changes to governance and a social contract to address climate change, learning from the current pandemic, (8) updated positive cost-benefit ratio and new perspectives on the potential for green growth in the short- A nd long-term perspective;(9) urban electrification as a strategy to move towards low-carbon energy systems and (10) rights-based litigation as an increasingly important method to address climate change, with recent clarifications on the legal standing and representation of future generations. Social media summary Stronger permafrost thaw, COVID-19 effects and growing mental health impacts among highlights of latest climate science. Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press.

Temporary reduction in daily global CO₂ emissions during the COVID-19 forced confinement

Government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically altered patterns of energy demand around the world. Many international borders were closed and populations were confined to their homes, which reduced transport and changed consumption patterns. Here we compile government policies and activity data to estimate the decrease in CO₂ emissions during forced confinements. Daily global CO₂ emissions decreased by -17% (-11 to -25% for +/-1sigma) by early April 2020 compared with the mean 2019 levels, just under half from changes in surface transport. At their peak, emissions in individual countries decreased by -26% on average. The impact on 2020 annual emissions depends on the duration of the confinement, with a low estimate of -4% (-2 to -7%) if prepandemic conditions return by mid-June, and a high estimate of -7% (-3 to -13%) if some restrictions remain worldwide until the end of 2020. Government actions and economic incentives postcrisis will likely influence the global CO₂ emissions path for decades.