Global CO2 emissions are rebounding to pre-pandemic levels

According to the Global Carbon Project, world's fossil CO2-related emissions have dropped by about 2.6 GtCO2 in 2020 to 34 GtCO2 (see figure below). This  decrease, which is equivalent to EU's annual GHG emissions, was caused mainly by the measures taken to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is about 7% below 2019 levels, while, in most countries, daily emissions decreased at the peak of the country’s lockdown by on average 27%.

The pathway to climate leadership for the United States

These 21 GHG reduction policies may allow cutting total emissions in the U.S. by 48 percent in 2030, and by 95 percent in 2050, relative to 2010 levels.

Source: energyinnovation.org

Simulations conducted by Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology LLC have identified policies across all economic sectors to achieve the IPCC’s recommended GHG reductions required to limit global warming to 1.5C.

The U.S. Energy Policy Simulator, an open-source and non-partisan computer model developed by Energy Innovation, has designed a policy scenario that achieves the IPCC’s recommended emissions reductions.