“We need science, solidarity and solutions.”
We must turn the recovery from the pandemic into a real opportunity to build a better future.”
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During the early days of the lockdown, it was clear that carbon emissions were down dramatically:
Coronavirus: the impact on the environment – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Carbon emissions are really tricky to measure precisely – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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As reported over the weekend, this was a very temporary thing:
UN report: Covid crisis does little to slow climate change – BBC News
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A UN report shows that we are ‘getting back to normal’ with a vengeance:
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United in Science report: Climate Change has not stopped for COVID19
Climate change has not stopped for COVID19. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase. Emissions are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic levels following a temporary decline caused by the lockdown and economic slowdown. The world is set to see its warmest five years on record – in a trend which is likely to continue – and is not on track to meet agreed targets to keep global temperature increase well below 2 °C or at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
This is according to a new multi-agency report from leading science organizations, United in Science 2020. It highlights the increasing and irreversible impacts of climate change, which affects glaciers, oceans, nature, economies and human living conditions and is often felt through water-related hazards like drought or flooding. It also documents how COVID-19 has impeded our ability to monitor these changes through the global observing system.
“This has been an unprecedented year for people and planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives worldwide. At the same time, the heating of our planet and climate disruption has continued apace,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a foreword. “Never before has it been so clear that we need long-term, inclusive, clean transitions to tackle the climate crisis and achieve sustainable development. We must turn the recovery from the pandemic into a real opportunity to build a better future,” said Mr Guterres. “We need science, solidarity and solutions.”