CO2 Levels Continued to Rise During Pandemic - 2020

еса business energy T 01246 290 490 W ecaBusinessEnergy.com buy better, use less CO2 Levels Continued to Rise During Pandemic CO. CO, 2020 COVID-19 has diminished the activities of millions of people across the world and with it, greenhouse gas emissions. However, studies conducted have shown that dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have not fallen. During the pandemic, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO.) levels continued to rise. In fact, more CO2 accumulated in the atmosphere between January and July 2020 than during the same period in 2017 or 2018. The Pandemic Period For 44 years, a research station in Tasmania, Australia has been studying and monitoring the global atmosphere. The emissions reductions caused by COVID-19 started in China from January and peaked globally in April. 420 400 380 360 340 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Decades Since the station first began measurements in 1976, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased by 25%, as shown in the graph above. The slowdown in the rate of carbon emissions during the pandemic is a mere tug against this overall upward trend. Atmospheric Transport The majority of emissions reductions from COVID-19 happened in the Northern Hemisphere. This is due to the fact it is where most of the world's population lives. Direct measurements of CO2 in cities where strict lockdown measures were imposed to show emissions reductions of up to 75%. This would have reduced atmospheric CO: concentrations locally. However, it will take many months for this change to take effect in the Southern Hemisphere atmosphere - and by the time it does, it will be significantly diluted. Natural Fluctuation Global carbon emissions have grown by about 1% a year over the past decade. This has triggered growth in atmospheric CO2 levels of between 2 and 3 ppm per year at that time, as shown in the graph below. In fact, CO2 has accumulated more rapidly in the atmosphere with every passing decade, as emissions have grown. 4 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Decades The horizontal lines indicate the average growth rate in ppm/year each decade. Even though CO2 emissions have increased consistently, the resulting rate will vary differently each year. This is because almost half of human emissions are consumed by ecosystems and the ocean and such a process differs each year. SECR Find out if your organisation must comply with SECR legislation, using ECA Business Energy's free online tool. Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting is submitted alongside financial reporting. ECA Business Energy can help clients comply with SECR. ECA clients achieve 100% compliance with energy obligations thanks to our compliance and advice service. For more details please visit www.ecabusinessenergy.com/secr-eligible eca business energy ECA Business Energy ЕСА House 1 Dronfield Court buy better, use less Civic Centre Dronfield S18 1NQ T 01246 290 490 W ecaBusinessEnergy.com CO, ppm per year Hourly background CO, concentration (ppm)