We present an assessment of the impacts on atmospheric composition and radiative forcing of short-lived pollutants following worldwide decrease in anthropogenic activity and emissions comparable to what has occurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, using the global composition-climate model UKCA. Changes in emissions reduce tropospheric hydroxyl radical and ozone burdens, increasing methane lifetime. Reduced SO emissions and oxidising capacity lead to a decrease in the sulphate aerosol burden and increase in aerosol particle size, with accompanying reductions to cloud droplet number concentration. However, large reductions in black carbon emissions increase the albedo of aerosols. Overall, the changes in ozone and aerosol direct effects (neglecting aerosol-cloud interactions) result in an instantaneous radiative forcing of -31 to -74 mWm. Upon cessation of emission reductions the short-lived climate forcers rapidly return to pre-COVID levels, meaning these changes are unlikely to have lasting impacts on climate assuming emissions return to pre-intervention levels.