A new scientific report by the Global Carbon Project predicts that global carbon dioxide emissions are set to rebound to near the levels they were at before Covid.
The amount of planet-heating gas released in 2020 fell by 5.4% as the pandemic forced countries to lock down. But the study shows the window is closing on our ability to limit temperature rise to the critical threshold of 1.5C.
Yet emissions from coal and gas are predicted to grow more in 2021 than they fell the previous year - though carbon released from oil use is expected to remain below 2019 levels.
According to scientists, this rise in carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere underlines the urgency of action at summits like COP26 in Glasgow.
Important deals have been struck at the meeting this week, on limiting emissions of methane and on curbing deforestation.
Yet emissions from coal and gas are predicted to grow more in 2021 than they fell the previous year - though carbon released from oil use is expected to remain below 2019 levels.
This rapid rebound in emissions is at odds with the ambitious CO2 cuts required in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. This is the increase viewed by scientists as the gateway to dangerous levels of global warming.
As Climate change is one of the world's most pressing problems, reducing emissions by an amount roughly equivalent to that in the post-lockdown period presents a daunting challenge. But the scientists stress that it remains achievable.
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