After a sharp reduction last year, carbon emissions are climbing up again sharply. Climate researchers had hoped decreasing emissions would be a silver lining to the ongoing pandemic. 

Due to COVID-19, many of the world’s biggest economies were shut, planes were grounded, factories were closed, and people stayed home. This decreased the demand for carbon dioxide emitting fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.  

“Considering emissions were able to decline during COVID, we can all acknowledge that there are ways to decrease our demand on dangerous fuels, especially larger businesses and factories,” said senior Sophia Rabelo. 

The International Energy Agency estimates emissions fell 5.8 percent in 2020, the biggest percentage decline since World War II. In their  latest report, the IEA said emissions are expected to raise 4.8 percent this year, the biggest annual gain since 2010’s record-setting increase.

In big countries, demand is climbing and they are turning back to carbon-intensive fuels. However, the developed world’s energy mix continues to move toward less-carbon-intensive fuels.

The Paris Agreement, which the Biden administration rejoined in February, calls for cutting emissions enough to keep temperatures less than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. President Biden is holding a virtual climate summit with 40 world leaders to set a new U.S. goal of reducing its emissions.

“This summit is important for world leaders to meet and decide how to manage our countries dependence and usage of fuels to a proper amount,” said senior Veronica Eulate.