GAW | Response of atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduced emissions due to the COVID-19 shutdown
The response of atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduced emissions due to the COVID-19 lockdown has been presented in the UNFCCC special event "SBSTA Chair information event with the scientific community". The recording and additional material are available here.
Key messages:
- Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continue to increase
- Long-term observations coordinated by the WMO demonstrated substantial interannual variability in the concentration annual growth rate that was largely driven by the natural processes (biosphere).
- The separation between natural variability and the one influence by lock-down measures will require datasets over longer time and sophisticated model analysis (helped also by use of isotope measurements).
- The most substantial impact of the shutdown emission reductions on atmospheric GHG concentrations has been observed in urban areas.
- Continued long-term observations under different conditions combined with comprehensive analysis can serve as a guiding tool to see where we go through the economic recovery process and can guide the corrective actions.