Connecting dots: Pitt health expert explores intersection of climate change and COVID-19

Dr. Maureen Lichtveld poses for a photo inside of the School of Public Health on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in Oakland on Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo by Jess Daninhirsch/PublicSource) “PublicSource is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region. Sign up for our free newsletters.” by Natalie Bencivenga, PublicSource August 19, 2024 COVID-19 and the climate crisis may seem like unlikely bedfellows. But Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health, makes the case that they are interconnected in a variety of ways that put pressure on the public health systems of communities around Pennsylvania. Fracking and deforestation in the state contribute to the climate crisis and increase the risk of diseases transmitted from animals to humans, like COVID-19. We discussed this intersection and potential solutions. The conversation was edited for brevity and clarity. Can you share a bit about your work and what brought you to Pittsburgh?
 I’m here because there is so much that we need to do, not only locally, regionally, nationally, but internationally, because of the public health threats we are facing. From the traditional environmental health issues to now, increasingly, pandemics and climate and health. I see myself as...