China Lockdowns Reduced Carbon Emissions by 7.9%, Estimates Show

  • Emissions fell in the three months through May from year ago
  • Global emissions also fell over period, Carbon Monitor says
Near-empty highways during a lockdown due to Covid-19 in Shanghai in May. Source: Bloomberg
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China’s coronavirus lockdowns and an ongoing property market slump reduced the nation’s carbon emissions in the three months through May, contributing to a drop in global pollution over that period.

Carbon dioxide emissions from China, which contribute to global warming, fell by 7.9% in March to May compared with the same period last year, according to Carbon Monitor. The international research project produces frequently-updated estimates of global emissions based on economic data.