Coronavirus tipped to trigger record fall in global emissions

Global carbon emissions are tipped to fall 6 per cent this year, more than during any previous economic crisis or war, led by a plunge in fuel consumption as the coronavirus hits economic activity and travel.

Emissions from global aviation are estimated to fall
by up to 350 million tonnes by the end of the year.

But experts say that won't be enough to achieve the Paris Agreement's ambition of limiting global warming to as close to 1.5 degrees as possible.

Climate change publisher Carbon Brief expects reductions in factory output and travel as countries try to control the spread of coronavirus will cut 2 billion tonnes from worldwide emissions, which hit a record 36.8 billion tonnes last year.

"The coronavirus crisis could trigger the largest ever annual fall in CO2 emissions in 2020, more than during any previous economic crisis or period of war," Carbon Brief says.

Read the story from The Age by Mike Foley - “Coronavirus tipped to trigger record fall in global emissions.”