Climate crisis: CO2 hits new record despite Covid-19 lockdowns

Drop in emissions this year is a tiny blip' in buildup of greenhouse gases, UN agency says

Climate-heating gases have reached record levels in the atmosphere despite the global lockdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN's World Meteorological Organization has said.

There is estimated to have been a cut in emissions of between 4.2% and 7.5% in 2020 due to the shutdown of travel and other activities. But the WMO said this was a tiny blip" in the continuous buildup of greenhouse gases in the air caused by human activities, and less than the natural variation seen year to year.