In an NPR article by Jennifer Ludden and Jeff Brady, the authors connect the dots between Covid-19 and the massive reduction in energy demand, and other influencing factors in the U.S./world economy. Their major claim is that this perfect storm, as a result of warmer winter combined with movement-restrictions related to Covid-19, will reduce greenhouse gas emission by a projected 8%; simply unprecedented.
However, Covid-19 is neither something to be celebrate nor a sustainable way to keep the current projections the way they are. Industries must continue to change, Ludden and Brady argue. “The U.N. has said global emissions must be cut that much [8%] every year for the next decade in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid its worst impacts.” Their article is supported by findings in a report by the International Energy Agency (EIA). They link to the report in the first paragraph of the article.
I chose to put this post in the “Public Health Related” section because climate change is a public health concern.