Highlighted by many scientists as a likely contributor, a new study now finds #climatechange has contributed to the emergence of #SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes #COVID-19 #climatehealth https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/uoc-ccm020221.php

The study has revealed large-scale changes in the type of vegetation in the southern Chinese Yunnan province, and adjacent regions in Myanmar and Laos, over the last century.

Climatic changes including increases in temperature, sunlight, and atmospheric carbon dioxide have changed natural habitats from tropical shrubland to tropical savannah & deciduous woodland. This created a suitable environment for many bat species living in forests.

This 'global hotspot' is the region where genetic data suggests SARS-CoV-2 may have arisen.

Dr Robert Beyer, University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology & first author of the study, says: "Understanding how the global distribution of bat species has shifted as a result of climate change may be an important step in reconstructing the origin of the COVID-19 outbreak."

"As climate change alters habitats, species leave some areas & move into others - taking their viruses with them. This alters the regions where viruses are present, & allows for new interactions between animals & viruses, causing more harmful viruses to be transmitted or evolve.”