The world is on lockdown. So where are all the carbon emissions coming from?

grist.org

16 points·dredmorbius··5 comments

So where are all those emissions coming from? For one thing, utilities are still generating roughly the same amount of electricity — even if more of it’s going to houses instead of workplaces.

I see that as a positive, we already know how to shift electricity production to low carbon technologies and many parts of the world are already doing so. Transport is much harder to deal with.

Exactly that. We don't need to replace every car or plane out there. If we're able to build a renewable electricity grid and shift heating to using that clean electricity instead of gas or oil, we can save much more than by using electric transportation. But for that we'd need more clean electricity supply which isn't intermittent or can work as storage.

The bleak reality is that living standards need to fall in developing economies to reduce global carbon emissions, at least with current technologies. Otherwise, increased living standards in developing economies will replace the developed economies reduced emissions due to sheer population size and growth.

People in all countries will be so desperate for work that they won't give a damn about carbon emissions.

I think this describes developing economies generally. Basic housing and food is what people need work for.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com