Near-real-time monitoring of global CO2 emissions reveals the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Zhu Liu (), Philippe Ciais, Zhu Deng, Ruixue Lei, Steven J. Davis, Sha Feng, Bo Zheng, Duo Cui, Xinyu Dou, Biqing Zhu, Rui Guo, Piyu Ke, Taochun Sun, Chenxi Lu, Pan He, Yuan Wang, Xu Yue, Yilong Wang, Yadong Lei, Hao Zhou, Zhaonan Cai, Yuhui Wu, Runtao Guo, Tingxuan Han, Jinjun Xue, Olivier Boucher, Eulalie Boucher, Frédéric Chevallier, Katsumasa Tanaka, Yi-Ming Wei, Haiwang Zhong, Chongqing Kang, Ning Zhang, Bin Chen, Fengming Xi, Miaomiao Liu, François-Marie Bréon, Yonglong Lu, Qiang Zhang, Dabo Guan, Peng Gong, Daniel M. Kammen, Kebin He and Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
Additional contact information
Zhu Liu: Tsinghua University
Philippe Ciais: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement LSCE, CEA CNRS UVSQ, Centre d’Etudes Orme de Merisiers
Zhu Deng: Tsinghua University
Ruixue Lei: The Pennsylvania State University
Steven J. Davis: University of California, Irvine
Sha Feng: The Pennsylvania State University
Bo Zheng: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement LSCE, CEA CNRS UVSQ, Centre d’Etudes Orme de Merisiers
Duo Cui: Tsinghua University
Xinyu Dou: Tsinghua University
Biqing Zhu: Tsinghua University
Rui Guo: Tsinghua University
Piyu Ke: Tsinghua University
Taochun Sun: Tsinghua University
Chenxi Lu: Tsinghua University
Pan He: Tsinghua University
Yuan Wang: California Institute of Technology
Xu Yue: Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology
Yilong Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yadong Lei: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hao Zhou: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhaonan Cai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuhui Wu: Tsinghua University
Runtao Guo: Tsinghua University
Tingxuan Han: Tsinghua University
Jinjun Xue: Center of Hubei Cooperative Innovation for Emissions Trading System
Olivier Boucher: Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Sorbonne Université / CNRS
Eulalie Boucher: Université Paris Dauphine, Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
Frédéric Chevallier: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement LSCE, CEA CNRS UVSQ, Centre d’Etudes Orme de Merisiers
Katsumasa Tanaka: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement LSCE, CEA CNRS UVSQ, Centre d’Etudes Orme de Merisiers
Haiwang Zhong: Institute for National Governance and Global Governance, Tsinghua University
Chongqing Kang: Institute for National Governance and Global Governance, Tsinghua University
Bin Chen: School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Fengming Xi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Miaomiao Liu: School of the Environment, Nanjing University
François-Marie Bréon: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement LSCE, CEA CNRS UVSQ, Centre d’Etudes Orme de Merisiers
Yonglong Lu: College of Ecology and the Environment, Xiamen University
Qiang Zhang: Tsinghua University
Dabo Guan: Tsinghua University
Peng Gong: Tsinghua University
Daniel M. Kammen: University of California
Kebin He: Tsinghua University
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting human activities, and in turn energy use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Here we present daily estimates of country-level CO2 emissions for different sectors based on near-real-time activity data. The key result is an abrupt 8.8% decrease in global CO2 emissions (−1551 Mt CO2) in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The magnitude of this decrease is larger than during previous economic downturns or World War II. The timing of emissions decreases corresponds to lockdown measures in each country. By July 1st, the pandemic’s effects on global emissions diminished as lockdown restrictions relaxed and some economic activities restarted, especially in China and several European countries, but substantial differences persist between countries, with continuing emission declines in the U.S. where coronavirus cases are still increasing substantially.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18922-7

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