'Extraordinary' drop in emissions during COVID-19 is what we need each year to limit warming to 1.5°C

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-07-01 01:00

Australia; ACT

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Carbon dioxide emissions fell 6.3% during the first year of the COVID pandemic and experts say this extraordinary drop is the same size as what we need to see each year if we are going to limit warming to 1.5 °C. The drop in daily emissions during the first part of the year included a large decrease in emissions from the transportation sector. However, daily CO2 emissions gradually recovered from late April as economies restarted. Subsequent waves of lockdowns in late 2020 continued to cause smaller CO2 reductions, primarily in western countries. The authors say this underscores the magnitude and speed at which the energy transition needs to advance.