Global Carbon Budget report said the global fossil carbon dioxide emissions are returning to their 2019 levels after decreasing by 5.4% — 1.9 billion tons — in 2020.
The report said emissions rose by 4.9% in 2021. Pierre Friedlingstein, who authored the report, said the 2020 drop was due to the global COVID-19 lockdown when many people stopped driving and flying as stay-at-home orders were enforced.