The coronavirus quarantine improves air quality, but it is not a substitute for climate action

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that the reduction of emissions as a result of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus, are no substitute for actions against climate change.

Efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic have reduced economic activity and led to localized improvements in air quality.

“But it is too early to assess the implications for the concentrations of greenhouse gases that are responsible for long-term climate change. Carbon dioxide levels at key observation stations have so far been higher than last year,” the organization said in a statement.

For its director, it is irresponsible to minimize the enormous health challenges and loss of life caused by COVID-19 despite local pollution reductions and improved air quality.

“However, now is the time to consider how to use economic stimulus packages to support a long-term shift towards more environmentally and climate-friendly business and personal practices,” said Petteri Talas.

He added that past experience suggests that the decline in emissions during economic crises is followed by a rapid increase and that this trajectory needs to be changed.

“The world needs to demonstrate the same unity and commitment to climate action and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as containing the coronavirus pandemic. Failure to mitigate climate change could lead to greater losses of both life and economy over the coming decades,” he said.

Reducing emissions from COVID-19

According to an analysis conducted for Carbon Brief, the blockade and reduction of economic activity in China led to an estimated 25% reduction in CO2 emissions over four weeks.

WMO Global Atmosphere Watch’s global atmospheric monitoring system coordinates long-term observation of greenhouse gas concentrations on a planetary scale

Emissions represent what happens into the atmosphere, while concentrations represent what remains in the atmosphere after the complex system of interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere and oceans.

Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere and oceans for centuries. This means that the world is committed to continued climate change, regardless of any temporary drop in emissions due to the coronavirus epidemic, the World Meteorological Organization says.

The February monthly average of atmospheric CO2 at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii was 414.11 parts per million, compared to 411.75 ppm in February 2019, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mauna Loa is the world’s largest continuous observation station and a reference station for the WMO atmosphere monitoring system

At another reference station, Cape Grim in Tasmania, average CO2 levels were 408.3 ppm in February, compared to 405.66 ppm in February 2019.

About a quarter of total emissions are absorbed by the oceans. Another quarter is absorbed by the terrestrial biosphere, including forests and vegetation that act as carbon “sinks.” Naturally, the terrestrial biosphere absorbs a similar amount of CO2 that it releases during the year in a seasonal cycle. Therefore, average global CO2 levels generally increase until April and May.

This natural effect is far greater in magnitude than the emission reductions related to the recent economic slowdown. It is therefore too early to draw firm conclusions about the significance of this economic slowdown in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.

After the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, there was a strong growth in emissions in emerging economies, a return to emissions growth in developed economies and an increase in the fossil fuel intensity of the world economy, according to a study in Nature Climate Change.

In 2018, greenhouse gas molar fractions reached new highs, with globally averaged molar fractions of carbon dioxide (CO2) at 407.8 ± 0.1 parts per million (ppm), methane (CH4) at 1869 ± 2 parts per billion (ppb) and nitrous oxide (N2O) at 331.1 ± 0.1 ppb. Preliminary data indicate that greenhouse gas concentrations continued to rise in 2019.

Air quality

Observations have shown that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels are being significantly reduced by quarantines in China and Italy. In Italy, a gradual trend of reduction of around 10% per week over the past four to five weeks has been confirmed by surface observations from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.

Nitrogen dioxide, a gaseous air pollutant that forms when fossil fuels are burned at high temperatures, is harmful to health and a precursor to near-surface ozone that also has adverse effects on health and ecosystems. It is also a short-lived climatic factor. NO2 remains in the atmosphere usually less than a day before depositing or reacting with other gases in the atmosphere. Therefore, the effects of emission reductions are visible shortly after they have taken place.

Surface ozone measurements at the Global Atmosphere Watch station on Monte Cimone, which dominates the Po Valley in northern Italy, show a decline in March 2020, according to raw data. It’s too early to draw firm conclusions about the importance for greenhouse gas concentrations, according to Italy’s Consiglio Nazionale delle Recerche and the Institute of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences.

Source: UN News