Page 11 - Gi_April2020

international news

CORONAVIRUS CUTS CHINA’S GREENHOUSE

GAS EMISSIONS BY A QUARTER

THE CORONAVIRUS wiped out at
least a quarter of China’s emissions of
damaging greenhouse gases in just two
weeks, scientists have found.
Measures to prevent the spread of the
outbreak have led to sharp drops in the
burning of fossil fuels – a key cause of
the climate crisis – in the world’s largest
greenhouse gas producer.
Reducing industrial working hours
and keeping construction sites and
shops closed curbed the use of coal
and cut output of steel products in the
country, which produces about 27 per
cent of global greenhouse gases. THE OUTBREAK HAS SEEN MAJOR
As China’s leaders have strived for CHANGES TO CHINESE SOCIETY
economic growth, its carbon dioxide
emissions have risen, hitting a record on official statistics. People’s fear of being quarantined,
high in 2018. Factories, offices, shops and schools for instance, would give them pause for
But with cities under lockdown, coal all closed for the Chinese New Year thought and change their behaviour,
use at the country’s power stations hit a holiday, but this year the holiday was he said. If one in five consumption
four-year low, and oil refinery operating extended in an effort to limit the spread decisions was not now being taken,
rates in Shandong province were at of coronavirus. that could also influence people’s
their lowest level since 2015, statistics Dominic Moran, Professor of psychology for the better.
from February showed. Agricultural and Resource Economics But Joeri Rogelj, Climate Change and
Output of key steel products reached at Edinburgh University, told The Environment Lecturer at the Grantham
their lowest level for five years, and Independent any falls in emissions Institute, Imperial College London, said
domestic flights fell by up to 70 per cent would have a cumulative benefit, and the changes would make no difference
in a single month. the drop in flights was likely to change in the long term.
The measures also led to a drop of 36 people’s behaviour long-term. “This change in CO₂ is not
per cent in levels of nitrogen dioxide “Some will say the pent-up demand permanent,” he said. “In the grand
air pollution over China, according to for goods will lead to a rebound scheme of things it won’t be visible in
analysis by climate science website splurge afterwards,” he said. “But this our total emissions.
Carbon Brief. could be a minor real effect – 20 per “If there’s a silver lining to the virus,
Overall, the changes in Chinese cent of the world economy is slowly it’s that it’s a wake-up call in our
society caused a 40 per cent plunge in shutting down, one in five global society and intricate structures. We’re
output across key industrial sectors, flights is being cancelled. I doubt it will far from controlling our world as well
according to the study, which was based catch up afterwards.” as we think.”

GLOBAL LNG DEMAND TO DOUBLE BY 2040, SHELL PREDICTS

SHELL EXPECTS LNG TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT Shell has predicted. coronavirus in China, which has hit
ROLE IN A LOWER-CARBON FUTURE
In its annual outlook for the demand just as supply has swelled.
supercooled fuel, the energy major Shell has invested heavily in gas
said that gas would play a significant infrastructure in recent years as it aims
role in shaping a lower-carbon future. to shift the balance of its portfolio away
About 80 per cent of global energy from oil and banks on surging demand
demand growth is forecast to be met for the fuel, led by rising electrification
by renewables and gas, reports The of the energy system.
GLOBAL DEMAND FOR liquefied Financial Times. While burning gas releases fewer
natural gas is expected to double to The forecast demand growth is emissions than oil and coal it is still a
700 million tonnes by 2040 as energy set against current weakness in fossil fuel and has come under attack
consumption, particularly in Asia, consumption. Global LNG prices have by environmentalists who are calling
rises and the world shifts away from fallen to record lows this winter amid for a rapid shift to renewable energy to
dirtier burning fuels, Royal Dutch milder weather and the outbreak of combat global warming.

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News.indd 6 12/03/2020 12:29