Atmospheric carbon dioxide rebounds as global pollution rates approach pre-Covid levels

The Covid pandemic stalled emissions in places like Manhattan, but only temporarily. Credit: NOAA

Global carbon emissions are projected to bounce back to 36.4 billion metric tons this year after an unprecedented drop caused by the response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an annual report by the Global Carbon Project.

Fossil carbon emissions dropped by 5.4% in 2020 amid Covid lockdowns, but the new report projects  they will increase by 4.9% this year. 

"The rapid rebound in emissions as economies recover from the pandemic reinforces the need for immediate global action on climate change,” said lead author Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, of Exeter's Global Systems Institute.

Read more at the link below.