Emissions Are Already Heading Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Carbon emissions are on the rise again after a short blip when the pandemic brought entire industries and international travel to a halt.

Emissions from burning fossil fuel dropped by an unprecedented 17% from the previous year during the peak of the lockdown in April, but by early June they had mainly returned to about 5% below 2019 levels, according to United in Science 2020, a report published on Wednesday coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization.

While overall emissions will fall more than ever this year , the drop won’t slow climate change and the five years through 2020 is set to be the warmest five-year period on record, according to the report.

The concentration of carbon emissions shows no signs of peaking because humans continue to pump out carbon dioxide, although at a slightly lower rate than last year. Emissions of methane, which has much more heating potential, have also risen in the past decade.