Dataset Information

Satellite-based estimates of decline and rebound in China's CO₂ emissions during COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Changes in CO₂ emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been estimated from indicators on activities like transportation and electricity generation. Here, we instead use satellite observations together with bottom-up information to track the daily dynamics of CO₂ emissions during the pandemic. Unlike activity data, our observation-based analysis deploys independent measurement of pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere to correct misrepresentation in the bottom-up data and can provide more detailed insights into spatially explicit changes. Specifically, we use TROPOMI observations of NO₂ to deduce 10-day moving averages of NO _x and CO₂ emissions over China, differentiating emissions by sector and province. Between January and April 2020, China's CO₂ emissions fell by 11.5% compared to the same period in 2019, but emissions have since rebounded to pre-pandemic levels before the coronavirus outbreak at the beginning of January 2020 owing to the fast economic recovery in provinces where industrial activity is concentrated.

SUBMITTER: Zheng B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7821878 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Satellite-based estimates of decline and rebound in China's CO2 emissions during COVID-19 pandemic.

Zheng Bo B Geng Guannan G Ciais Philippe P Davis Steven J SJ Martin Randall V RV Meng Jun J Wu Nana N Chevallier Frederic F Broquet Gregoire G Boersma Folkert F van der A Ronald R Lin Jintai J Guan Dabo D Lei Yu Y He Kebin K Zhang Qiang Q

Science advances 20201202 49

Changes in CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been estimated from indicators on activities like transportation and electricity generation. Here, we instead use satellite observations together with bottom-up information to track the daily dynamics of CO2 emissions during the pandemic. Unlike activity data, our observation-based analysis deploys independent measurement of pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere to correct misrepresentation in the bottom-up dat ...[more]

PMID: 33268360

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Project description:Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of global climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the worst of its kind in the last century with regard to global deaths and, in the absence of any effective treatment, it led to governments worldwide mandating lock-down measures, as well as citizens voluntarily reducing non-essential trips and activities. In this study, the influence of decreased activity on CO2 emissions and on the economy was assessed. The US, EU-28, China and India, representing almost 60% of anthropogenic carbon emissions, were considered as reference entities and the trends were extrapolated to estimate the global impact. This study aimed to deduce initial estimates of anthropogenic CO2 emissions based on the available economic and industrial outputs and activity data, as they could not be directly measured. Sector-wise variations in emissions were modeled by assuming proportionality of the outputs/activities and the resulting emissions. A decline in road traffic was seen up to March 2020 and then a steady growth was observed, with the exception of China where road traffic started to recover by the end of January. The vast majority of passenger flights were grounded and, therefore, global air traffic plummeted by 43.7% from January to May 2020. A considerable drop in coal power production and the annual industrial growth rate was also observed. The overall economic decline led to a drop of 4.9% in annual global gross domestic product (GDP) for Q2 2020. The total global CO2 emissions reduction for January through April 2020 compared to the year before was estimated to be 1749 Mt. CO2 (14.3%) with a maximum contribution from the transportation sector (58.3% among total emissions by sector). Like other previous crises, if the economy rebounds as expected the reductions will be temporary. Long-term impacts can be minimized considering the business as well as lifestyle changes for travel, utilizing virtual structures created during this crisis, and switching to sustainable transportation.

Dataset Information

Satellite-based estimates of decline and rebound in China's CO₂ emissions during COVID-19 pandemic.

Publications

Satellite-based estimates of decline and rebound in China's CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during COVID-19 pandemic.

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