Emissions have fallen this year. Now we need to make it permanent

The pandemic is projected to cause an 8% drop in global CO2 emissions in 2020, which matches the annual decline required until 2050 to limit warming to 1.5°C. However, this reduction is linked to a deep recession, highlighting the need to decouple emissions from economic growth. While $11 trillion in fiscal and central bank stimulus has been deployed since January, much of it has not been green. To align with a 1.5°C scenario, over $90 trillion in investment is needed over 15 years. The EU's proposed €1.8 trillion recovery plan, with one third earmarked for climate action, is cited as a positive step toward closing the green investment gap.

• Global CO2 emissions are projected to decrease by 8% in 2020 due to the pandemic, a rate of decline that must be maintained annually for 15 years to achieve the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.
• Tackling climate change requires decoupling CO2 emissions from economic activity through transformative investments in energy storage, the electricity grid, new technology, and large-scale energy efficiency.
• An estimated investment exceeding $90 trillion is required over the next 15 years to reposition energy systems and the global economy for a 1.5°C scenario.
• The EU's recovery plan of nearly €1.8 trillion ($2.1 trillion) allocates one third of its funds to climate action to help reach a 2050 net-zero emission target and attract private investment.
• Despite the 2020 emissions drop, the pandemic alone is unlikely to change the climate trajectory, and current behavioral and technological changes are insufficient for a 2°C compliant world.

APA

Groth, C. (2020). Emissions have fallen this year. Now we need to make it permanent. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/emissions-have-fallen-this-year-make-permanent/

Chicago

Groth, Charlotta. Emissions have fallen this year. Now we need to make it permanent. World Economic Forum, 2020. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/emissions-have-fallen-this-year-make-permanent/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Groth |first1=Charlotta |title=Emissions have fallen this year. Now we need to make it permanent |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=13 October 2020 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/emissions-have-fallen-this-year-make-permanent/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{groth2020emissions, author = {Groth, Charlotta}, title = {{Emissions have fallen this year. Now we need to make it permanent}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/emissions-have-fallen-this-year-make-permanent/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }