Figure 6.1: Reductions in NO2 concentrations over India following COVID-19 lockdowns

in this chapter, investment in and promotion of public and active transportation systems especially in cities should be prioritized. Such actions will enhance urban resilience to future adverse events and contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation in cities.13

In response to the pandemic, many governments worldwide imposed lockdowns and mobility restrictions, the result of which were major improvements in air and water quality. Many cities around the world, especially those in developing countries such as China and India, reported unprecedented reductions in the level of airborne pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, CO2, NO2 and SO2. Declines were significant in cities that imposed lockdowns given the dominance of road transportation and associated emissions in urban areas (Figure 6.1).14

However, recent reports on the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions post-lockdowns do not indicate an ongoing green recover y. As countries eased mobility and activity restrictions and return to pre-pandemic normal emissions increased rapidly (Figure 6.3, Figure 6.2 and Box 6.1) and even reached a record high level in 2021.15 Either recover y packages are not prioritizing green growth, or the pandemic has caused delays in the implementation of some climate action plans.

Figure 6.1: Reductions in NO2 concentrations over India following COVID-19 lockdowns