The Triple Climatic Dividend of COVID-19

Adel Ben Youssef

A chapter in Energy Transition, Climate Change, and COVID-19, 2021, pp 107-118 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter seeks to highlight the critical effect of COVID-19 on climate change during 2020 and 2021. While most of the analysis has focused on the direct effect (reduced human activities and its consequences in terms of GHG emissions), we discuss two more profound effects induced by public spending and the change in the behavior of citizens vis-à-vis environment and climate change. We found three major significant climatic dividends of COVID-19. First, measures and mobility restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in a reduction by 5.8% of global emissions in 2020. However, as the economic activities are trying to be back to normality, there is the risk of the rebound of the emissions. Second, the recovery plan policies and the stimulus packages could positively impact climate change actions and could lead to building back better and in a sustainable way. Third, there was a significant change in the behavior of people during the crisis, which has resulted in the improvement of the air quality and reduction of emissions. Environmentally friendly actions should be promoted to maintain this behavior and to ensure a sustainable future.

Keywords: Climate change; COVID-19; GHG emissions; Recovery policies; Behavioral change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Working Paper: The Triple Climatic Dividend of COVID-19 (2021)
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-79713-3_6

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