Anthropogenic emissions during the pandemic

August 01, 2022
A photo of Nanchang, a city in Eastern China, at night; photo by Eriksson Luo. 
Photo of Nanchang at night by Eriksson Luo

During the COVID-19 pandemic, China implemented strict government control measures on production, which scientists expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Prof. Tim Griffis and his collaborators measured these effects in Nanchang, a large city in eastern China. During 2020, the team observed a 40% decrease of anthropogenic CO2, most of which came from the power sector. By 2021, emissions were higher than pre-pandemic levels, indicating a quick economic rebound. Read the recent publication in Environmental Pollution.