New research shows 64 countries cut their fossil CO2 emissions during 2016-2019,  but the rate of reduction needs to increase tenfold to meet the Paris Agreement aims  to tackle climate change. 

This first global stocktake by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA),  Stanford University and the Global Carbon Project examined progress in cutting  fossil CO2 emissions since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. Their results  show the clear need for far greater ambition ahead of the important UN climate  summit in Glasgow in November (COP26). 

The annual cuts of 0.16 billion tonnes of CO2 are only 10 percent of the 1-2 billion  tonnes of CO2 cuts that are needed globally every year to tackle climate change. While emissions decreased in 64 countries, they increased in 150 countries. Globally, emissions grew by 0.21 billion tonnes of CO2 per year during 2016-2019  compared to 2011-2015. The scientists’ findings, ‘Fossil CO2 emissions in the post-COVID era’, are published  today in Nature Climate Change. 

In 2020, confinement measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic cut global  emissions by 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2, about 7 per cent below 2019 levels. The  researchers say 2020 is a ‘pause button’ that cannot realistically continue while the  world overwhelmingly relies on fossil fuels, and confinement policies are neither a  sustainable nor desirable solution to the climate crisis.  

Prof Corinne Le Quéré, Royal Society Professor at UEA’s School of Environmental  Sciences, led the analysis. She said: “Countries’ efforts to cut CO2 emissions since the Paris Agreement are starting to pay off, but actions are not large-scale enough  yet and emissions are still increasing in way too many countries. The drop in CO2 emissions from responses to COVID-19 highlights the scale of  actions and of international adherence needed to tackle climate change. Now we need large-scale actions that are good for human health and good for the planet. It is in everyone’s best interests to build back better to speed the urgent transition to  clean energy.”  

Annual cuts of 1-2 billion tonnes of CO2 are needed throughout the 2020s and  beyond to avoid exceeding global warming within the range 1.5 °C to well below 2  °C, the ambition of the UN Paris Agreement. The world has warmed by over 1 °C  since the Industrial Revolution because of emissions of greenhouse gases from  human activities. 

Of the 36 high-income countries, 25 saw their emissions decrease during 2016-2019  compared to 2011-2015, including the USA (mean annual decrease of -0.7 percent), the European Union (-0.9 percent), and the UK (-3.6 percent). Emissions  decreased even when accounting for the carbon footprint of imported goods  produced in other countries. 

Thirty of 99 upper-middle income countries also saw their emissions decrease during  2016–2019 compared to 2011–2015, suggesting that actions to reduce emissions  are now in motion in many countries worldwide. Mexico (-1.3 percent) is a notable example in that group, while China’s emissions increased 0.4 percent, much less  than the 6.2 percent annual growth of 2011-2015. 

The growing number of climate change laws and policies appear to have played a  key role in curbing the growth in emissions during 2016-2019. There are now more  than 2000 climate laws and policies worldwide. A full bounce-back in 2021 to previous CO2 emission levels appears unlikely.  

However, the authors say unless the COVID-19 recovery directs investments in  clean energy and the green economy, emissions will likely start increasing again  within a few years. The nature of the disruption in 2020, particularly affecting road  transport, means incentive to expedite the large-scale deployment of electric  vehicles and encourage walking and cycling in cities are timely and would also  improve public health. The resilience of renewable energy throughout the crisis,  falling costs, and air quality benefits, are additional incentives to support their large scale deployment.  

Investments post-COVID continue to be overwhelmingly dominated by fossil fuels in  most countries, in contradiction with climate commitments, including in the United  States and China. The European Union, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland are among the few countries that have so far implemented  substantial green stimulus packages with limited investments in fossil-based  activities. 

Prof Rob Jackson of Stanford University co-authored the study. He said: “The  growing commitments by countries to reach net zero emissions within decades  strengthens the climate ambition needed at COP26 in Glasgow. Greater ambition is  now backed by leaders of the three biggest emitters: China, the United States, and  the European Commission.” 

“Commitments alone aren’t enough,” added Prof. Le Quéré. “Countries need to align post-COVID incentives with climate targets this decade, based on sound science and credible  implementation plans. This pressing timeline is constantly underscored by the rapid  unfolding of extreme climate impacts worldwide.” 

The paper, ‘Fossil CO2 emissions in the post-COVID era’, is published March 3,  2021 in Nature Climate Change (link here).