WASHINGTON POST • June 7, 2021
Economies worldwide nearly ground to a halt over the 15 months of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a startling drop in global greenhouse gas emissions. But that did little to slow the steady accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which reached the highest levels since accurate measurements began 63 years ago, scientists said Monday. Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide peaked in May, reaching a monthly average of nearly 419 parts per million. The science of how to put the world on a better path exists, but what remains unclear is whether societies can muster the kind of action that has yet to materialize.