Global Pandemic , Causes Carbon Dioxide Emissions, to Drop 7% in 2020 .<br />Although 2020 was a devastating year for many, COVID-19<br />lockdowns actually benefited the environment. .<br />The Global Carbon Project released<br />a report revealing that carbon dioxide<br />emissions fell by 7% across the world. .<br />That’s the biggest yearly drop ever recorded. .<br />In the United States and Europe, emissions<br />dropped by 12 and 11 percent, respectively. .<br />Researchers believe the largest<br />share of the decrease is due to less<br />emissions from transportation.<br />In China, emissions only dropped by 1.7 percent,<br />likely because they had an earlier lockdown and<br />a less drastic second wave of infections. .<br />China also has more industrial-based<br />emissions, meaning its industry was less affected<br />than transportation by COVID-19 lockdowns. .<br />Unfortunately, global emissions still led<br />to an increased amount of CO2 in the atmosphere,<br />as it still amounted to 37 billion tons produced. .<br />The atmospheric CO2 level, and<br />consequently the world’s climate,<br />will only stabilize when global CO2<br />emissions are near zero, Lead Researcher Pierre Friedlingstein,<br />University of Exeter, via ‘USA Today’.<br />In order to see lasting change, the<br />Global Carbon Project says “concerted<br />action” and “investment” is needed. .<br />We need concerted action that is planned,<br />that is good for health and good for the<br />environment but involves investment that<br />helps tackle climate change. , Corinne Le Quéré, University of<br />East Anglia, via ‘Scientific American’
