24 Feb Record drop in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2020
The social isolation resulting from measures to combat the transmission of the Corona virus caused a record drop in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2020. According to the GCP (Global Carbon Projet), in a report published at the Climate Conference promoted by the UNO (United Nations Organization), the annual fossil CO2 transfer balance recorded an average drop of 7%, or 2.4 billion tons in 2020! This scenario is a record never recorded, not even during the other more recent world crises, such as the financial crisis of 2008 or the Second World War.
The reduction in CO2 emissions was significantly less in the first half of last year. Transport (40%), energy production (22%) and industry (17%) sectors led the CO2 emission reductions, which, on average, corresponded to 1.5 million tons (8.8%) in the first half of 2020. The increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the second half of 2020 can be explained by the easing of social isolation measures in several countries around the world.
According to the Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), there is a “rebound effect” associated with the return of industrial and social activities, such as the increase in the flow of transport, after the end of global impact crises. In 2009, for example, there was a considerable decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, about 1.5%, however, in 2010, there was a rebound that increased the presence of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere by 5.1%.
However, according to Philippe Ciais, a researcher at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), “the way to mitigate climate change is not to interrupt activities, but to accelerate the transition to low carbon energy”. Thus, thinking about combating the climate change, the ideal is to transform the models of industrial and social processes to a format that aims at low CO2 emissions, associating it with measures to encourage the preservation of forests and ecosystems that can reduce the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere of our planet. Canopée contributes to this objective, helping land owners to developing projects for nature conservation and neutralization of greenhouse gases in their areas!
Sources:
Emissão de CO2 foi de 2,4 bilhões de toneladas menor em 2020. SUPER Interessante, 02/02/2021. Disponível em: Emissão de CO2 foi 2,4 bilhões de toneladas menor em 2020 | Super (abril.com.br). Acesso em: 19/02/2021.
Emissões globais de CO2 têm maior queda da história na primeira metade de 2020, diz estudo. G1, 14/10/2020. Disponível em: Emissões globais de CO2 têm maior queda da história na primeira metade de 2020, diz estudo | Natureza | G1 (globo.com). Acesso em: 22/02/2021.
Pandemia gera queda recorde de emissões de CO2 de origem fóssil em 2020. UOL Meio Ambiente, 11/12/2020. Disponível em: Aquecimento global: Pandemia derruba emissões de CO2 fóssil em 2020 (uol.com.br). Acesso em: 22/02/2021.
PÉCHY, Amanda. Queda nas emissões de CO2 é temporária e não retarda aquecimento global. Veja, 29/05/2020. Disponível em: Queda nas emissões de CO2 é temporária e não retarda aquecimento global | VEJA (abril.com.br). Acesso em: 22/02/2021.