Rates of CO2 cut by tenth in pandemic
GREENHOUSE gas emissions plunged by a tenth in 2020 as pandemic restrictions cut pollution from traffic, industry and energy supply, data reveals.
Pollutants which drive climate change plummeted by half between 1990 and 2020.
In 2020, emissions were estimated to be nearly 406 million tons, a drop of 9.5% from 448 million tons in 2019.
Covid lockdowns drove down transport pollution by 19% and emissions from energy supply fell by 12% due to lower usage, the Business Department said.
There were also falls in gases from industrial processes.
The Government said while lockdowns were part of it, “we continue to make significant progress to net zero by 2050”.