Let's balance out

It isn't as bad as you think. Or maybe it is.

Another week has passed and we're back with the climate updates! This is "Let's balance out" and you'll read one good news and one bad news about the climate crisis. Shall we begin?

So what do you want first? The good news or the bad news?

While the silver lining of the Covid pandemic was the reduction of movement and transport, therefore clearer and cleaner skies, now the situation looks like is going back to normal.

Data provided by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air show that concentration of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide across China are now at the same levels as one year earlier.
Crea's lead analyst says that "Highly polluting industries have been faster to recover from the crisis than the rest of the economy. It is essential for policymakers to prioritise clean energy."

And what's happening in China may happen in Europe as well.

Regarding this, some cities are thinking about systems to maintain clean air standards even when out of the lockdown.

Copenhagen, for example, set the goal to become carbon neutral by 2025, by promoting bicycles and replacing carbon heating with wind energy, biomass and geothermal energy.

Another city that's putting a lot of effort is Mexico City, and its major challenge is traffic. So they established some days when cars can't circulate (Hoy No Circula), they rose their emission standards for vehicles and invested more in public transport.

Here you can find more examples!

Credits
Animation by Asia Renna