Study Shows Historic Drop in Carbon Emissions During COVID-19 Confinement

The reduction in carbon emissions was primarily due to fewer people driving and flying during the stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions. Since the reduction in emissions is directly tied to the pandemic, it’s unclear how long the lower levels will last.

Rob Jackson, professor in Stanford University’s earth science systems department and study co-author, told CNN, “I can’t celebrate a drop in emissions driven by unemployment and forced behavior. We’ve reduced emissions for the wrong reasons.”

While lower emissions are always good news for the environment, a global health crisis isn’t the way to make positive change happen. When life returns to normal, however, Jackson is optimistic that behaviors learned during the pandemic will transfer to our new everyday life.

“The blue skies people have seen as we’ve parked our cars,” said Jackson, “have shown people what we could have every day by driving clean vehicles or walking and biking.”