Virus forces 17 per cent drop in global emissions according to CSIRO study

Global lockdown due to the worldwide coronavirus has had a silver lining for the planet with global carbon emissions down 17 per cent according to the latest study.

Restrictions in place because of coronavirus have resulted in global emissions declining by 17 per cent in April, a new study reveals.

The preliminary analysis was published in Nature Climate Change on Wednesday and is the effort of a global team including researchers from the CSIRO.

It found the peak decline of a 17 per cent drop in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel sources occurred on April 7.

The decrease is compared to the same time last year, and resulted in a level of emissions not seen since 2006.

Protesters with placards participate in The Global Strike 4 Climate rally in Sydney last year. Coronavirus has inadvertently achieved a reversal in carbon emissions. Picture: AAP Image

China, the US, India and other high-emitters were all in high levels of lockdown at that point in April.

Daily emissions between January and April have declined by 8.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Data was used from 69 countries – including Australia – that make up 97 per cent of global emissions and have 85 per cent of the world population.

“Decreases in emissions in 2020 were largest in China where industry and communities first locked down, followed by the US, Europe, and then India,” CSIRO researcher and report co-author Pep Canadell said.

The greatest decreases in emissions were seen in surface transport. Picture: Supplied

Decreases were the greatest in the surface transport sector, which includes cars and shipping.

It recorded a 36 per cent decrease in emissions, equivalent to 7.5 megatonnes of carbon dioxide.

“Across other sectors, the power sector ranked second and the industry sector, encompassing manufacturing and material productions, third in terms of their contributions to the global decrease in emissions in early April,” Dr Canadell said.

Climate activists march during the Extinction Rebellion demonstration that occurred in 60 cities around the world last year. Picture: AFP

There was also a 60 per cent decline in emissions from the global aviation industry in April compared to the year before, amounting to about 1.7 Mt of CO2.

If restrictions are lifted by the middle of June, the overall decrease in emissions for the year is expected to be about 4.2 per cent, compared to 7.5 per cent if countries remain at some level of lockdown until the end of the year.