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COVID-19 cut carbon emissions but not enough to dent global warming

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The lockdown-related fall in emissions is just a tiny blip on the long-term graph. We need a sustained flattening of the curve – WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

Many eagerly awaited to know the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the climate. Did the widespread shutdowns and drastic reduction in industrial activities lead reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission?

According to preliminary estimates by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the annual global carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduced 4.2-7.5 per cent in 2020.

WMO?? Global Carbon Project has estimated that ??uring the most intense period of the shutdown, daily CO2 emissions may have been reduced by up to 17 per cent globally due to the confinement of the population??

But there is not much to cheer about: WMO calls it a blip on the planet?? uncontrolled emission scenario.

According to the estimate report:

At the global scale, an emissions reduction at this scale will not cause atmospheric CO2 to go down. CO2 will continue to go up, though at a slightly reduced pace (0.08-0.23 ppm per year lower).

The natural inter-annual variability in CO2 emission is 1 part per million (ppm). It means the impact of the pandemic on CO2 reduction is not significant and not even higher than the natural variability figure.

??his means that on the short-term the impact of the COVID-19 confinements cannot be distinguished from natural variability,??according to WMO.

The Earth?? atmosphere has a heavy concentration of GHGs including CO2. The temporary reduction in emission due to the pandemic would not curb global warming and resultant climate change.

Rather, the GHG emission would continue to rise in 2020 as well. Last year the global average of CO2 crossed the threshold of 410 ppm.

Taalas said:

Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries and in the ocean for even longer. The last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was 3-5 million years ago, when the temperature was 2-3?C warmer and sea level was 10-20 meters higher than now. But there weren?? 7.7 billion inhabitants.

More to it, it took just four years for the level to cross this threshold from 400 ppm in 2015. ??uch a rate of increase has never been seen in the history of our records. The lockdown-related fall in emissions is just a tiny blip on the long-term graph. We need a sustained flattening of the curve,??the WMO secretary-general added.

??he annual globally averaged level of carbon dioxide was about 410.5 parts per million (ppm) in 2019, up from 407.9 parts ppm in 2018, having crossed the 400 parts per million benchmark in 2015. The increase in CO2 from 2018 to 2019 was larger than that observed from 2017 to 2018 and also larger than the average over the last decade,??according to the WMO bulletin.

Source: Down to earth, Monday 23 November 2020 by Richard Mahapatra

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Ramco Cements Campaign Wins Six Kyoorius Honours

Hard Worker campaign wins Grand Prix for Eco Plaster film

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The Ramco Cements Limited’s Hard Worker campaign has achieved a major milestone at the prestigious Kyoorius Creative Awards, winning six honours including the coveted Grey Elephant Grand Prix for the Eco Plaster film. The awards were announced and presented at the Kyoorius Creative Awards Night 2026 held on 23rd May 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Competing alongside some of the country’s leading brands and agencies, the campaign received recognition across multiple creative categories, reaffirming the power of authentic storytelling rooted in the lives of hardworking people. The Eco Plaster commercial, which highlighted the importance of water conservation through innovative construction solutions, emerged as the campaign’s biggest winner, securing most of the honours.

The campaign’s wins include: 
Grey Elephant (Grand Prix) – Eco Plaster 
Blue Elephant – Best Film – Eco Plaster
Blue Elephant – Best Direction – Eco Plaster
Blue Elephant – Best Music – Eco Plaster
Baby Elephant – Best Direction -Tortoise & Hare
Baby Elephant – Best Use of Humour – Eco Plaster

Established in 2014, the Kyoorius Creative Awards recognise and celebrate creative excellence across India’s advertising, marketing and communications industries. Presented by Zee Entertainment Enterprises and powered by the USA-based The Clio Awards, the awards are regarded among the country’s most respected creative honours.

Known for their ethical and neutral judging process, the Kyoorius Creative Awards evaluate work purely on merit through a non-hierarchical awards structure, without Gold, Silver or Bronze distinctions. The iconic Elephant symbolises memorable work that leaves a lasting impact on the industry.

The Hard Worker campaign by The Ramco Cements Limited was conceived around the insight that true strength and progress are built through everyday hard work. Through emotionally resonant storytelling, distinctive craft and culturally rooted narratives, the campaign connected strongly with audiences across markets. The integrated campaign was rolled out across television, digital platforms, outdoor media and extensive on-ground activations, helping strengthen the brand’s connect with consumers, engineers, masons and trade communities alike.

Commenting on the achievement, A V Dharmakrishnan, CEO of Ramco Cements, said: “Winning at the Kyoorius Creative Awards is a proud moment for all of us. The Hard Worker campaign was created as a tribute to the spirit of hardworking people who form the backbone of our industry and our nation. These recognitions reaffirm our belief that authentic, meaningful storytelling has the power to create a deep and lasting connection with people.”

Balaji K Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements, added: “The Hard Worker campaign was built on a simple but powerful insight – that hard work deserves recognition and respect. We wanted the communication to feel rooted, emotional and culturally relevant while also pushing creative boundaries. Winning six honours, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix, is a tremendous validation of the idea, the craft and the collaborative effort of everyone involved in the campaign.”

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GP Petroleums Q4 PAT Rises 8%

Lubricant maker reports Rs 9.3 crore profit in Q4FY26

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GP Petroleums reported an 8 per cent rise in PAT to Rs 9.3 crore in Q4FY26, compared to Rs 8.6 crore in Q4FY25. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 163 crore, compared to Rs 183 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

EBITDA for Q4FY26 increased to Rs 14.7 crore from Rs 13.2 crore in Q4FY25, while EBITDA margin improved to 9 per cent from 7 per cent. The company said its performance was supported by operational efficiencies, strong customer relationships and an expanding product portfolio.

For FY26, revenue from operations rose 5 per cent to Rs 643 crore, compared to Rs 610 crore in FY25. EBITDA stood at Rs 44.7 crore, against Rs 42 crore in the previous year. PAT was Rs 26.50 crore, marginally higher than Rs 26.30 crore in FY25.

The company said FY26 PAT was impacted by a wage provision of Rs 3.25 crore, representing about 12 per cent of PAT. GP Petroleums continues to see opportunities in industrial lubricants, process oils and premium automotive lubricants, though geopolitical developments and crude-linked raw material cost volatility may pose short-to-medium-term challenges.

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Ramky Infra Order Book Crosses Rs 13,000 Crore

New order wins support resilient FY2026 performance

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Ramky Infrastructure reported a resilient FY2026 performance, supported by disciplined execution, cost efficiency and fresh order wins. The company secured new orders worth Rs 4,500 crore during Q4, taking its total order book above Rs 13,000 crore as of 31 March 2026.

Consolidated PAT grew 40 per cent year-on-year to Rs 283 crore in FY2026, compared to Rs 202 crore in FY2025. Standalone PAT rose 28 per cent to Rs 332 crore, while consolidated revenue from operations stood at Rs 1,846 crore. Standalone revenue from operations was Rs 1,679 crore.

During the year, the company secured orders worth Rs 6,500 crore across water, wastewater and industrial infrastructure. Key wins included a Rs 3,000 crore industrial park project from Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation for a 1,000-hectare land parcel at Dighi Port Industrial Area, Maharashtra.

Ramky also secured a Rs 2,100 crore water and wastewater project from Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board for water transmission lines, and a Rs 1,400 crore EPC contract from Maharashtra Industrial Township Limited for the Dighi Port Industrial Area project.

The company generated Rs 160 crore through asset monetisation and Rs 165 crore through the stake sale of a stabilised asset, supporting equity requirements for new projects. The Board also recommended a final dividend of 10 per cent of the nominal value per share, subject to members’ approval.

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