How sustainable environments have reduced the diffusion of coronavirus disease 2019: the interaction between spread of COVID-19 infection, polluting industrialization, wind (renewable) energy

TL;DR

This study investigates how sustainable environments, characterized by high wind energy and low pollution, can reduce COVID-19 spread and mortality, emphasizing the importance of sustainability policies in epidemic prevention.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence linking wind energy and pollution levels to COVID-19 diffusion, highlighting sustainability's role in epidemic control.

Findings

High wind energy regions have fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Polluted industrialized areas with low wind speed have higher infection rates.

Sustainable development strategies can help prevent future pandemics.

Abstract

This study endeavors to explain the relation between air pollution and particulate compounds emissions, wind resources and energy, and the diffusion of COVID-19 infection to provide insights of sustainable policy to prevent future epidemics. The statistical analysis here focuses on case study of Italy, one of the countries to experience a rapid increase in confirmed cases and deaths. Results reveal two main findings: 1) cities in regions with high wind speed and a high wind energy production in MW have a lower number of infected individuals of COVID-19 infection and total deaths; 2) cities located in hinterland zones (mostly those bordering large urban conurbations) with high polluting industrialization, low wind speed and less cleaner production have a greater number of infected individuals and total deaths. Hence, cities with pollution industrialization and low renewable energy have also to consider low wind speed and other climatological factors that can increase stagnation of the air in the atmosphere with potential problems for public health in the presence of viral agents. Results here suggest that current pandemic of Coronavirus disease and future epidemics similar to COVID-19 infection cannot be solved only with research and practice of medicine, immunology and microbiology but also with a proactive strategy directed to interventions for a sustainable development. Overall, then, this study has to conclude that a strategy to prevent future epidemics similar to COVID-19 infection must also be based on sustainability science to support a higher level of renewable energy and cleaner production to reduce polluting industrialization and, as result, the factors determining the spread of coronavirus disease and other infections in society.