By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire services

Over the past few weeks, there have been many reports of localized air quality improvements as the world has locked down to combat the coronavirus pandemic. However, no one should think that the climate crisis is therefore over far from it, announced the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, on Monday

The most recent data from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, NOAA, shows global carbon dioxide (CO2) levels rising sharply.

In April 2020 the average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 416.21 parts per million (ppm), the highest since measurements began in Hawaii in 1958.

Furthermore, ice core records indicate that such levels have not been seen in the last 800,000 years.

According to UNEP, the World Environment Situation Room shows a sharp increase in CO2 concentrations of more than 100 ppm since March 1958.

The curve shows expected seasonal fluctuations: the northern hemisphere has a greater land mass than the southern hemisphere and more vegetation-absorbing CO2 during the summer. Global CO2 concentrations peak in May at the end of the northern hemisphere winter.

"Then, as photosynthesis takes place and new foliage appears, it absorbs CO2, lowering concentrations by about 7.5 ppm until October. During the northern hemisphere winter, the Earth has less photosynthesis activity, so CO2 concentrations go down until the next cycle," said the organization in its statement.

CO2 concentrations are not only increasing but accelerating, these are emissions from human activities.

Given that the Homo sapiens appeared about 300,000 years ago, and the first trace of Homo sapiens sapiens, also called anatomically modern humans, dates to 196,000 years ago, no individual of our species has experienced such high levels of CO2, said UNEP.

“This is, of course, of great concern for our climate, and demonstrates, yet again, that urgent action is needed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," said Pascal Peduzzi, Director of UNEP. "To keep average global warming to 1.5°C we need to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, 2055 at the latest.”

These results may come as a surprise to those who optimistically assume that covid-19 will reduce total global emissions. While it is true that vehicular and air traffic, as well as industrial activity, has sharply reduced in most parts of the world since January 2020, this is not the case with our electricity supply: 64 percent of the global electricity energy mix comes from fossil fuels (coal: 38 per cent, gas: 23 per cent, oil: 3 percent), according to the World Energy Outlook 2019.

Heating systems have been functioning as before covid-19. None of the fundamentals have changed, such as the shift to renewable energy, public transport, deforestation, said the organization in its statement.

Forest fires and wildfires that are increasing in likelihood and severity due to climate change continue to affect swathes of Brazil, Honduras, Myanmar, Thailand, and Venezuela. Each fire emits large amounts of additional CO2, they said.

“Without fundamental shifts in global energy production, we should have no reason to expect a lasting reduction in emissions,” said Niklas Hagelberg, UNEP climate change expert. “Covid-19 instead provides us a chance to take stock of the risks we are taking in our unsustainable relationship with our environment and seize the opportunity to rebuild our economies in more environmentally responsible ways."

According to Hagelberg, people must take serious account of global threats such as pandemics and climate disasters to build resilient markets, companies, countries, global systems and a healthy, sustainable future for everyone.

“Supporting fiscal stimulus and finance packages to take advantage of decarbonization and the accelerating renewable and clean energy transition will not be just a short-term economic win but a win for future resilience too,” he added.


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