The article in the url below discusses the effects of the COVID lockdown on carbon emissions and documents, somewhat depressingly (although perhaps not surprisingly), how quickly they have rebounded. What I find fascinating about the pandemic, however, when essentially the whole developed world shut down, is how little impact there was on total emissions (see red circle, below):
For reference as to how relentless is the year-on-year increase in carbon emissions (despite all efforts to raise awareness of the dangers), see Strategic CSR – Climate inaction. During COVID, yes, total emissions dropped from 33.5 billion tons down to about 31.5 billion tons, but the world still produced 31.5 billion tons (more than almost all years since 1950) when a large percentage of the developed world was locked in their houses. When we all felt like there was nowhere we could go, total carbon emissions dropped by only about 6 percent. And, to be clear, we need to get it to zero. I think it is when you frame the problem in such stark terms that you realize we are simply not talking or thinking about the challenge from a realistic perspective. The analogy of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic comes to mind.
Take care
David
David Chandler
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Covid-19 Slashed Carbon Emissions. Now They're Climbing Again
By David Hodari
April 20, 2021
The Wall Street Journal
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-slashed-carbon-emissions-now-theyre-climbing-again-11618894980
