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It should come as no surprise that CO2 levels in the atmosphere have hit a record high. Many thought that due to the pandemic, greenhouse gas emissions would be significantly reduced due to stay at home orders—and reduced they were, but only by a mere 6%.
At the heart of CO2 emissions are fossil fuels. Climate change is a multidimensional problem, meaning that within it are many problems that need solving. Most of these problems, like our warming climate, could be solved with one solution: a significant reduction in the burning of fossil fuels.
2020’s 6% pandemic-related drop barely made a dent in the total net emissions. More than half of the world’s population was under lockdown, and the pause on travel did little to slow the increase. Now, as we exit the pandemic, CO2 levels have already rebounded quickly.
Although political leaders like Biden are making positive strides in fighting climate change—his plan proposes to cut emissions at least in half by 2030—this historic increase is a reminder of the massive efforts it will take to combat climate change over the foreseeable future. We need a more sustainable way to move away from fossil fuels. As people, we can stop eating red meat and drive electric cars, but it’s nearly impossible for humans to make a significant difference on an individual level. Let's continue to put pressure on our political leaders: the highest priority must be to reduce CO2 pollution to net zero as early as possible.