COVID-19 Lockdowns Led to Cleaner Air but Increased Methane Emissions, Study Finds
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, global lockdowns resulted in a significant reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels, a pollutant from vehicles and industry, leading to cleaner air. However, this also coincided with a surge in methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. A study published in the journal Science attributes this increase to a reduction in the atmospheric hydroxyl radical, which normally breaks down methane. The reduction in nitrogen oxides, due to decreased industrial activity, slowed the production of hydroxyl radicals, allowing methane to persist longer in the atmosphere. This phenomenon contributed to an unprecedented rise in methane levels, marking the highest growth rate since the 1980s. 
