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Coronavirus lockdowns have sent pollution plummeting, but environmentalists worry about what comes next as the resulting decline in carbon emissions could easily be reversed by efforts to quickly ramp up economies. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326 (1/7) #NBCNewsThreads
The planet has benefited from the coronavirus pandemic — but only in the short term.
Senior climate officer Li Shuo at Greenpeace in Beijing says it’s too early to “pop the champagne corks” and that “it’s hardly a sustainable way to reduce emissions.” (2/7)
Senior climate officer Li Shuo at Greenpeace in Beijing says it’s too early to “pop the champagne corks” and that “it’s hardly a sustainable way to reduce emissions.” (2/7)
Lauri Myllyvirta, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, says China responded to the 2008 financial crisis with the “biggest, dirtiest stimulus program in the history of mankind.”
“It meant that for the following three years there was rapid growth in CO2 emissions.” (3/7)
“It meant that for the following three years there was rapid growth in CO2 emissions.” (3/7)
The EU has begun a consultation on tightening its carbon reduction targets by 2030, but in the U.S the EPA confirmed the Trump administration has relaxed regulations.
Gina McCarthy, the EPA’s former director, called it “a license to pollute.” (4/7) https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326
Gina McCarthy, the EPA’s former director, called it “a license to pollute.” (4/7) https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326
Meanwhile, some industries in the U.S. and Europe are pushing to relax other regulations.
The plastics industry has worked to turn the tide on plastic bag bans and EU automakers are lobbying for a delay in tightening emissions restrictions due to the coronavirus crisis. (5/7)
The plastics industry has worked to turn the tide on plastic bag bans and EU automakers are lobbying for a delay in tightening emissions restrictions due to the coronavirus crisis. (5/7)
It’s “abundantly clear that the countries of the world are falling short of the goals of the Paris agreement,” says Dr. Simon Evans, deputy editor of Carbon Brief. “Current pledges have the world on track for warming of about 3 degrees Celsius.” (6/7) https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326
“Any positive environmental impact” needs our habits to be “cleaner and greener,” says Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program.
“Only long-term systemic shifts will change the trajectory of CO2 levels in the atmosphere.” (7/7) https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326
“Only long-term systemic shifts will change the trajectory of CO2 levels in the atmosphere.” (7/7) https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-lockdowns-have-sent-pollution-plummeting-environmentalists-worry-about-what-n1178326
