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People wearing face masks walk past the CCTV building in Beijing on May 19, 2020. AFP
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Maps showing the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide over China between January 1, 2020 and February 25, 2020. EPA
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Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre released a GIF image of the decrease in nitrogen dioxide concentration in the GCC countries, between November 26, 2019 until March 27, 2020. MBRSC
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Two animated images show the drop in nitrogen dioxide emissions across Europe between January to March. Reuters
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A woman wears a mask to protect against pollution as she passes the CCTV building in heavy smog on December 8, 2015 in Beijing, China. Getty Images
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People wearing face masks walk past the CCTV building in Beijing on May 19, 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JOTDLDGQ7ZHTNMCSBSV3LIBHZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4fd9ee182cabd81f0687075432a6cb6169c93bce39d31c24e90d06adb863e2f&width=400&height=225)
Maps showing the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide over China between January 1, 2020 and February 25, 2020. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JYD456DJVGVY3JPNVO5YNJDU5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38cc834ad30b1e435dfba9460df132271a864aa11a533c7a380815282eacfa1&width=400&height=225)
Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre released a GIF image of the decrease in nitrogen dioxide concentration in the GCC countries, between November 26, 2019 until March 27, 2020. MBRSC
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6BJOFO4OANIKWYYZKHJ7SMKRKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=43d1679cee98a445884dc7dd1a6c2873ceffd56f0e0ce07d6e00e0c7ef70b644&width=400&height=225)
Two animated images show the drop in nitrogen dioxide emissions across Europe between January to March. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNPJUHNVGNV7ZY4EOZXXGO2WVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a83c10179de71463ecf410087d55705e0cd6361e131a5ed4caca89ebf51e98b&width=400&height=225)
A woman wears a mask to protect against pollution as she passes the CCTV building in heavy smog on December 8, 2015 in Beijing, China. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VKFB642KQKWVQDVNXYQ3FNKVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=db62196ede0744dca966a613eb474b91246c08abe698b4162230f7b1f36f412d&width=400&height=225)
People wearing face masks walk past the CCTV building in Beijing on May 19, 2020. AFP
Coronavirus: Why the climate change clash will get nastier
Even with the pandemic behind us, there will be too many who will fight tooth and nail to return to harmful and exploitative practices
19 May, 2020
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