COVID-19 and Climate Change
The Art
The Science
What’s Alarming
According to the Global Carbon Project 2021, Covid-19 caused a 5.4% drop in fossil fuel emissions for 2020. However, history shows this reduction may be transitory and likely to be immediately followed by a resumption of greater use of fossil fuels, as can be seen from the graph. “Indeed, since the Industrial Revolution, the world’s emissions have not gone down except briefly during economic crises.”* In fact, the Global Carbon Project predicts that emissions will rise by almost 5% in 2021, rapidly erasing the gains of the 2020 respite.
And it’s possible the pandemic could create other obstacles to immediate plans to address climate change: “Economists and policy analysts say they are most concerned about how the current financial disruption could harm the efforts of countries, international organizations and companies to reduce emissions. They think any drop in emissions tied to the virus will be short-lived, while the continuing drop in oil prices could encourage more consumption and hurt demand for low- or no-carbon products like electric vehicles.”**
But other experts believe the renewable industry will continue its rapid forward movement only after a brief setback.*** In fact, renewable energy was the only sector to record a slight increase in demand during the pandemic.In Europe plans are forming to use the massive financial stimulus packages to support a renewable energy infrastructure. Many studies have shown more jobs can be created from supporting renewable energy investment than fossil fuels.
In January, 2022 The Rhodium Group reported US emissions rose 6.2 percent in 2021, which is especially concerning since 2021 was a year that experience continued suppression of demand due to the ongoing pandemic.
* 10 ways coronavirus is changing energy and climate change, Axios – Energy & Environment, Amy Harder, Mar 23, 2020
**Coronovirus Really Not the Way You want To Decrease Emissions, InsideClimate News, Dan Gearino, Mar 11, 2020
Utilities Embracing Renewable Energy As Oil Prices Slide, New York Times, April 8, 2020
What’s Inspiring
Perhaps there will be some lasting positive effects from this tragic pandemic. We may have all learned some critical lessons.
We have witnessed the results when governments - state, local and federal - take prompt and aggressive action in the face of a looming crisis and, too, the consequences arising from denial and delay. Pandemics, like climate change, do not respect international borders and nations have seen the mutual benefits to be derived when they cooperate to share information, support and resources. And the wisdom of relying on scientific expertise in fashioning political strategies and responses has also been made abundantly clear.
But perhaps, most importantly, people across the world have demonstrated a willingness to shoulder their individual responsibilities and to make necessary sacrifices to help solve a global crisis. We all now realize how effective those personal actions can be.
So, here’s the question: When the virus fades, will these lessons be forgotten, or will they carry over to inspire the efforts of nations across the world to address the urgent issue of climate change?
