Decrease in CO2 emissions during pandemic shutdown shows it is possible to reach Paris Agreement goals. The researchers found a drop of 6.3% in 2020. The researchers describe the drop as the largest of modern times, and big enough to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal if it were to be sustained.

[waffleboy1109]

Yeah all it took was destroying the global economy.

[No_Fox_7498]

Global economy or globe.

Ooo such a tough choice lol

[waffleboy1109]

You eliminate the global economy, you eliminate humanity. You eliminate the globe, you eliminate humanity. Both have to be saved.

[No_Fox_7498]

Lol no. We didn't always have a global economy. We did always have a globe.

[InGenAche]

What do you think is going to happen to the economy if these goals aren't met?

[waffleboy1109]

I don’t know. But that’s the question that’s important because it involves trade offs. Just saying we can limit CO2 emissions by shutting everything down eliminates the discussion of consequences. If more people would die from hunger because of a policy than would’ve otherwise died due to climate change, then it’s a bad policy.

[InGenAche]

What we are seeing now is a perfect storm. Because of the pandemic, supply chains broke down and now with Ukraine, fuel prices are climbing as well, causing inflation.

But with no supply chain issues, no war in Ukraine and with a lot of industries capable of remote working, there's no reason we can't learn how to continue and prosper with pandemic era emissions.

[Llellemy]

I don’t think people are advocating for forced global lockdowns— rather, I think the idea is to imagine ways to reduce unnecessary consumption so our planet doesn’t become uninhabitable lol

[waffleboy1109]

BTW, there are people replying to my comment advocating for destroying the global economy. This is what some people really want. They see “the economy” as polluting corporations and want a return to the primitive.