The impact of COVID-19 on global emissions has been estimated based on a combination of energy, activity and policy data available up until the end of April 2020. The data was drawn from 69 countries, including Australia, that represented 97 per cent of global emissions and 85 per cent of the world’s population. Estimates were then compared against daily emissions data from the same period in 2019. The global decrease in emissions has been triggered primarily by changes in numbers of cars and other vehicles on the road (the surface transport sector – which also includes shipping) leading to a 36 per cent decrease in emissions, equivalent to 7.5 megatonnes (5.9 to 9.6) carbon dioxide (CO2). The global aviation industry, which has been largely grounded as a result of COVID-19, saw a 60 per cent decline in early April emissions compared to 2019. This is equivalent to 1.7 megatonnes (1.3 to 2.2) CO2.
— source csiro.au | 20 May 2020