COVID improved the air quality in Aarhus

The transport sector’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 46% as people began to work from home in 2020

The outbreak of the pandemic negatively impacted nearly all aspects of our lives, from our physical health and mental wellbeing to our careers and finances. Despite this, the Danish Municipality of Aarhus points out that COVID has had a positive effect on one thing: the climate.

More specifically, it revealed that its net greenhouse gas emissions decreased significantly in 2020, following the enforcement of restrictions and lockdowns. Expanding on this, the municipality shared that the transport sector witnessed the biggest change as its emissions reportedly fell by 25,000 tonnes (a whopping 46%) compared to the previous year.

Proof that our actions can make a difference

In a press release, the municipality notes that the 2020 climate accounts act as proof that minor changes to our daily lives can make a big difference. Commenting on this, the Mayor of Aarhus Jacob Bundsgaard explained:

“We must use these accounts as motivation for us to be able to collectively change society’s emissions. Of course, we must not shut down society, but we must use experience from the lockdowns to streamline workflows and establish new habits that can both provide a good quality of life and reduce our climate footprint as individuals.”

Working from home

The outbreak of COVID changed the way companies operate as many resorted to working from home. Remote work then quickly proved to be beneficial for employers as they could reduce their businesses’ operating costs and for employees as they no longer had to spend time stuck in traffic. As such, working from home also positively impacted the environment.

Now, the municipality advises companies to continue operating remotely as this allows them to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Giving concrete examples of how working from home can help the environment, Climate Manager at Aarhus Municipality Henrik DH Müller shared:

“If a commuter who drives 20 kilometres in a petrol car every day chooses to work from home two days a week, they can save 255 kilograms of CO2 annually. If approximately 25% of the commuters in Aarhus do this, it could save 4.2 tonnes of CO2 per year – and of course, some money on transport costs.”