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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    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
    Kunming University of Science and Technology
    Economic Research Centre of Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku)

  • 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
    National Institute for Environmental Studies)

  • Yiming Wei

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Haiwang Zhong

    (Institute for National Governance and Global Governance, Tsinghua University)

  • Chongqing Kang

    (Institute for National Governance and Global Governance, Tsinghua University)

  • Ning Zhang

    (Institute of Blue and Green Development Shandong 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
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 , 2020. "Near-real-time monitoring of global CO2 emissions reveals the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18922-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18922-7
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