The concentration of CO ₂ in the atmosphere continues to rise despite the pandemic

In recent weeks, various reports have reported improvements in air quality as a result of the pandemic and the reduction of activities to deal with the coronavirus. However, no one should think that the climate crisis is over; far from it.

The most recent data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) show that global levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) rise sharply in the atmosphere.

We emit fewer wintering gases in transport and industry; but we continue to spew too many gases by burning fossil fuels to produce electricity. And on the other hand, forest fires have just tipped the balance negatively.

The average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 416.21 parts per million

In April 2020, the average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 416.21 parts per million (ppm), the highest since measurements began in Hawaii in 1958.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports a sharp increase in CO2 concentrations of more than 100 ppm since March 1958.

However, due to the CO2 emissions caused by man in his various human activities (burning of fossil fuels, but also those derived from waste emissions and so on…) CO2 concentrations not only increase, but also accelerate.

Using ice core records, it is possible to measure CO2 trapped in deep Antarctic ice from 800,000 years ago. And never in the last 800,000 years have we reached 416 ppm.

No individual of our species has experienced such high levels of CO2.

Since Homo sapiens appeared about 300,000 years ago, and the first trace of Homo sapiens sapiens (anatomically modern humans) dates back 196,000 years, no individual of our species has experienced such high levels of CO2.

“All of this is of great concern to our climate, and demonstrates, once again, that urgent action is needed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. To stop the rise of average global warming to 1.5°C (relative to pre-industrial temperatures) we need to reach net zero emissions by 2040 (2055 at the latest),” says Pascal Peduzzi, Director of UNEP/GRID-Geneva and Programme Manager of the Global Environment Situation Room.

64% of electricity production comes from fossil fuels

These results may surprise those who assume with optimism that Covid-19 will reduce total global emissions.

While it is true that vehicle and aircraft traffic, as well as industrial activity, have been drastically reduced in most parts of the world since January 2020, the electricity supply is largely produced with fossil fuels. 64% comes from this fossil energy: coal, 38%; gas, 23%, and oil, 3%), according to World Energy Outlook 2019.

The heating systems have been working as before the appearance of Covid-19. There have been no momentous transformations in this period (such as the shift to renewable energy, public transport, deforestation)

Change requires changing the energy model

Wildfires are increasing the likelihood and severity of events due to climate change, particularly in Brazil, Honduras, Myanmar, Thailand and Venezuela, and each fire emits large amounts of additional CO2.

“Without fundamental changes in global energy production, we should have no reason to expect a lasting reduction in emissions,” says UNEP climate change expert Niklas Hagelberg.

“Instead, Covid-19 gives us the opportunity to take stock of the risks we are taking in our unsustainable relationship with our environment and seize the opportunity to rebuild our economies in more environmentally responsible ways,” he says.

Source: The Vanguard