Energy & Science
This Year’s Emissions Drop Is a ‘Tiny Blip,’ UN Agency Says
The impact of coronavirus lockdowns on greenhouse gas emissions can’t be distinguished from natural variability, WMO says
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Human emissions of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change will fall between 4.2% and 7.5% this year due to the global industrial slowdown caused by coronavirus lockdowns.
But carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will continue to go up, albeit at a slightly reduced pace, according to preliminary data by the World Meteorological Organization released on Monday. The short-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic can’t be distinguished from natural variability, the United Nations agency said.