Coronavirus Shutdown Reduces China’s Pollution by 25%

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on whatsapp
WhatsApp
Share on email
Email
Reading Time: < 1 min

The last month has brought China to a standstill, with factory shutdowns and cities on lockdown it has faced one of the most contagious virus epidemics of the century.

A recent Carbon Brief analysis shows that China’s CO2 emissions have been temporarily reduced by 25% as a consequence of the coronavirus epidemic—6% of global emissions over this period.
This is due to their lowest energy demand in years, indicated by:

Pollution

  • a four year low in coal use power stations
  • low operating rates of oil refineries
  • domestic flights down 70% compared to the previous month
  • NO2 air pollution down 36%
  • a five year low in steel product lines

Whether major CO2 emitting industries will quickly catch up after the shutdown remains to be seen. In the meantime NASA satellite images show a stark drop in air pollution—with noxious gas NO2 almost at zero—across China.

NASA satellite images

Pollution

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on whatsapp
WhatsApp
Share on email
Email

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our newsletter

A two minute read that connects you to the week’s key environmental stories.

You may also like