Corona and Climate: How They Intersect
- Kayla Peale
- Jun 2, 2020
- 3 min read
COVID-19 is not changing our lifestyles alone; it is affecting the climate as well. Pictures of clear skylines in China and India and cleaner canals in Italy have circulated social media since the outbreak in late December of 2019. The European Space Agency’s Sentinel-5P satellite, which monitors nitrogen dioxide levels (a component of vehicle exhaust and indicator of burning fossil fuels), has revealed lower emissions in China and Italy, two epicenters of the outbreak. The levels are relatively lower compared to those at the same time the year prior. A Bloomberg article estimates that as many as 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (about 8% of the total projected carbon dioxide emissions for 2020) have not been emitted as a result of this virus.
So, what is causing a reduction in emissions in countries faced with the spreading virus? A New York Times article suggests that a reduction in travel is perhaps the most direct and impactful cause. In Northern Italy, the government enacted strict measures that limited travel for 16 million people, and soon after the rest of the country followed suit. In China, Wuhan (the origin of the outbreak) and the surrounding region were put on lockdown, again causing millions of people to be restricted in terms of travel. In both countries, these restrictions have glued people to their homes and thus caused global emissions to drop significantly. In cities across the world, traffic has practically disappeared; in London and Mumbai, congestion has decreased by 28% and 59%, respectively.
Reduced emissions are also the result of economic output. The American economy has been hit hard by this virus, as over a quarter of small businesses have closed down and a record-breaking 36 million people have filed for unemployment. One industry that has been suffering, in particular, is airlines. Since fewer people are traveling, U.S. airlines have lost substantial revenue, and emissions from air travel have decreased as well. Compared to last year at the same time, there has been a decrease in carbon dioxide emitted from aviation by as much as 10 million metric tons.
Despite these reduced emissions, rising temperatures are not likely to change. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by approximately 2.5 parts per million (ppm) each year since 2010. According to Pierre Friedlingsten of the University of Exeter, a 10% reduction in emissions would still cause an increase of 2 ppm of atmospheric CO2. Carlo Buontempo of the Copernicus Climate Change Service explains this phenomenon: “because of the inertia in the climate system, even if we were to significantly reduce or stop or emissions today, you would still see the increase in temperatures expected for the next 20 years almost unaffected”. The big takeaway? Even a temporary stalemate will not do much to curb climate change.
So, what should we take away from this virus? What lessons have we learned that can help us create a more sustainable future?
Video conference more! Teleworking in quarantine has taught us that some meetings do not need to happen in-person to achieve the same level of productivity. It has been proven that people break habits when the alternative is more beneficial. Instead of flying across the country for conferences or work trips, we can sit in the comfort of our own homes while getting just as much done.
Now is the time to enact legislation that guarantees a more sustainable future! As Congress passes coronavirus relief bills, we have the opportunity to hold polluting industries more accountable. In fact, 8 Democratic senators signed a letter addressed to Congress saying that any airline or cruise ship company receiving financial assistance from a coronavirus bill should also make a commitment to reducing their emissions, given their trajectory (according to the New York Times, air travel only accounts for 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions today, but it is expected to triple by 2050). A similar strategy was taken by the Obama administration, when they saved GM and Chrysler from bankruptcy after the 2009 recession in return for adherence to cleaner fuel-economy rules for cars and light trucks. Daniel Rutherford of the International Council on Clean Transportation puts it best: “... air travel is eventually going to bounce back after this crisis subsides. And if the industry gets bailed out without any change to the underlying status quo, we’re going to see emissions continue to rise in the years ahead.”
While these indications of lower emissions are promising, Inger Andersen of the United Nations Environment Programme has warned not to cling to the false hope spread by these studies; these environmental changes are the result of “‘economic slowdown and human distress’”. The economy has been hit hard. This is, of course, is temporary, so these changes will vanish when COVID-19 subsides and human activity returns to normal. Only long-term commitment, like legislation, will lower carbon emissions and combat climate change. We need an economy that supports both the people and the environment.
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