UN Weather Agency says Temporary Fall in Carbon Emissions due to COVID-19 Won’t Halt Climate Change

Published by Matt Fishman on

The United Nations’ Weather Agency, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), released a statement today that “COVID-19 may result in a temporary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but it is not a substitute for sustained climate action.”

As people around the world are confined to their homes, there has been a “5.5 to 5.7 per cent fall in levels of carbon dioxide due to the pandemic”.

WMO’s Secretary General noted, “[w]hilst COVID-19 has caused a severe international health and economic crisis, failure to tackle climate change may threaten human well-being, ecosystems and economies for centuries”; Urging that the world exhibits the “same determination and unity against climate change as against COVID-19”.

Once the global markets return to status quo, WMO “expects emissions to return to normal”, and foresees a potential “boost in emissions”.