Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase In The Spotlight As G-7 Summit Begins

The G-7 summit will be held June 11-13 in the United Kingdom, and world leaders have a slate of major issues to discuss- economic rebounds, international relations, and of course the pandemic and vaccine availability.

However, climate change and global greenhouse gas emissions are likely to be another central focus of the discussions. Smaller countries are increasing calls for the world's largest economies to both decrease emissions and financially contribute to smaller economies' climate change efforts. The pandemic has only heightened the pressure on the world's largest, and smallest, economies.

During the course of the pandemic, the world experienced a marked decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions decreases followed lockdowns with reduced global airplane and vehicle travel.  In 2020, the global carbon dioxide emissions fell by 6.4%, with the United States alone experiencing a 13% decline in emissions.  Air travel experienced a 48% emissions