Now, a lot more people are going to say Mother Nature unleashed COVID-19 onto humankind to heal herself.
Scientists are reporting a remarkable and "extreme" decline in daily carbon dioxide emissions since early April. This decline was 17% lower compared to averages from 2019. This low emission level was last seen in 2016. It can be traced to COVID-19 lockdowns that kept millions of people from traveling by land, air, and sea.
The welcome plunge in daily CO2 emissions was reported in a study published Tuesday in the journal, Nature Climate Change. The study also said lockdowns might lead to an annual CO2 emissions decline of up to 7%, the largest reduction since World War II.
The study said the largest factor in the CO2 emissions plunge was the absence of millions of polluting motor vehicles on the world's streets. This development accounted for 43% of the decrease. Air travel's carbon footprint fell by a massive 60% as airlines grounded up to 90% of their air fleets. The aviation industry generally accounts for only 3% of yearly global CO2 emissions.
The study said the largest change in CO2 emissions came from China. Next in line were the U.S., Europe, and India. Climate scientists expect a yearly decline in CO2 levels between 4% and 7%, depending on how long countries remain under lockdown.
Lockdowns and the resulting population confinement have led to severe changes in energy use and CO2 emissions said Prof. Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia, one of the study's lead authors. She noted, however, these extreme decreases are likely to be temporary and don't reflect structural changes in economic, transport, or energy systems.
She said the extent to which world leaders consider climate change when planning their economic responses post-lockdown will influence global CO2 emissions decisions for decades to come.
The study said the impending yearly emissions drop for 2020 will be at par with the decrease needed to achieve the Paris climate agreement's the goal of keeping the Earth's warming from exceeding 2 degrees Celsius.
The drop in emissions is large but illustrates the challenge of reaching the Paris climate commitments," said Prof. Rob Jackson of Stanford University, co-author of the study. Jackson said humanity needs systemic change through green energy and electric cars, and not temporary reductions from enforced behavior.
The study said the pandemic might permanently change people's behaviors in ways that are good for the environment. Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to become more popular, as is working-from-home (WFH), or telecommuting, which large numbers of companies find is the only way to stay in business while protecting their employees.
More important, the pandemic is also forcing people to recognize the importance of clean air for health and longevity. Jackson said air pollution weakens hearts and lungs and makes the virus stronger. On the other hand, clean power and EVs might give people clean air without sheltering at home.
