Airlines’ carbon emissions could drop by more than one-third this year as travel demand sinks, a trend that could continue as businesses reassess their need to fly, according to theAustralia Institute.
The industry’s carbon-dioxide emissions between Feb. 1 and March 19 fell by more than 10 million tons from the same period a year ago as airlines scrapped flights during the coronavirus outbreak, the research body said in a report. Traffic forecasts by the International Air Transport Association suggest airlines’ emissions could drop 38% in 2020, the report said.
$81.9B Renewable power investment worldwide in Q4 2019 -6.08% Today’s arctic ice area vs. historic average
50,820 Million metric tons of greenhouse emissions, most recent annual data +1.17° C Feb. 2020 increase in global temperature vs. 1900s average
Mumbai, IndiaMost polluted air today, in sensor range 0 3 2 1 0 9 ,0 8 7 6 5 4 0 8 7 6 5 4 0 8 7 6 5 4 Soccer pitches of forest lost this hour, most recent data 0 6 5 4 3 2 0 3 2 1 0 9 0 7 6 5 4 3 .0 2 1 0 9 8 0 4 3 2 1 0 0 8 7 6 5 4 0 8 7 6 5 4 0 7 6 5 4 3 0 7 6 5 4 3 Parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere
Businesses barred from flying have turned to online alternatives to face-to-face meetings includingZoom Video Communications. The teleconferencing company has recorded more active users in the first two months of 2020 than in all of 2019. Commercial aviation accounts for about 2% of global carbon emissions, according toIATA.
“The question remains as to whether Covid-19 pandemic will permanently change our flying habits,” said Richie Merzian, climate and energy program director at theAustralia Institute. “If we can work well together online now, perhaps it will permanently reduce the need for business travel.”
Air traffic bounced back within months after SARS in 2003, though that outbreak didn’t have the global reach nor impact of the coronavirus.
In Australia,Qantas Airways Ltd. andVirgin Australia Holdings Ltd., have shuttered all international routes and pared back domestic services to the bare bones.
Those cuts will see the country’s demand for aviation fueldrop by as much as 90% as long as the crisis persists, according to fuel marketing companyCaltex Australia Ltd. Australia’s aviation emissions could more than halve in 2020, the Australia Institute report said.
Source: Read Full Article