Climate: Will we revert to pre-COVID damage?

Re: “World carbon pollution falls 17%,” (TNT, 5/20).

Perhaps the only positive outcome from the current global pandemic is the clearer skies and cleaner air in most of the world’s population centers.

Alas, as the article correctly states, the reprieve from carbon pollution will be short lived as the world’s economy returns to pre-COVID activity.

Scientists worldwide agree that to limit a global temperature increase to just 2 degrees Celsius, we would have to reduce carbon emissions by 7% to 8% per year for the next 10 years.

As climate scientist Professor Michael Mann states: “individual behavior alone won’t get us there,” but that we need “structural changes.” That means moving to clean fuel sources, i.e., stop burning fossil fuels.

The good news: In 40 countries, wind and solar energy sources are now less expensive than coal and even natural gas.

Globally, we need the political will to make it happen. The health and livability of our planet depend on it.

This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 9:07 AM with the headline "Climate: Will we revert to pre-COVID damage?."