The coronavirus crisis reduces China’s CO ₂ emissions by 25%

The epidemic caused by the new coronavirus, Covid-19, has a long list of negative effects, undoubtedly led by the death of more than 2,000 people (see in La Vanguardia).

However, there are also side effects that can be of benefit to the environment in general and the climate in particular.

There are currently no official studies in this regard but the WEBSITE based in the United Kingdom specialized in information on climate crisis CarbonBrief has published an article signed by Lauri Myllyvirta, an analyst at the Center for Research in Energy and Air Quality in which it is indicated that during the last weeks, the Covid-19 crisis may have caused a 25% reduction in China’s emissions into the atmosphere of CO₂, reference gas in the greenhouse effect and climate change.

However, Lauri Myllyvirta, whom CarbonBrief presents as an expert on air quality and energy in China, warns that this cut in China’s emissions will in all likelihood be only a temporary effect, until the country recovers its usual activity.

The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions registered a first high point in China during the days leading up to the Lunar New Year holiday, which fell on January 25, and which normally lasts until February 10.

Since then, due to drastic containment measures and restrictions on movement to curb the epidemic, many factories remain idle or run at half gas, as highlighted by AFP from the report published in CarbonBrief.

One of the results of this health crisis situation has been that energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 100 million tons compared to the same period last year, data provided by Lauri Myllyvirta.

Provisional relegations

In the last two weeks (from February 3 to 16), _CO2 emissions are approaching 300 million tons, according to the study conducted by experts from the Finland-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

However, in the two weeks following the New Year’s holiday in 2019, the country had emitted 400 million tons.

“The reduction in coal and oil consumption shows a reduction of at least 25% of emissions compared to the comparable period last year,” equivalent to a 6% reduction in global emissions during the period, the study notes.

Such a fall for two weeks could represent, in itself, a reduction of about 1% of the annual emissions of the world’s second largest economy.

Source: The Vanguard