Decrease in carbon dioxide emissions worldwide between 1945 and 2020, by major historical event (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

In recent decades, measurements of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions have indicated significant decreases as a result of major events taking place around the world. The global recession of 1983 represented a fall of around one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide globally over four years. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis of 2020 is forecast to represent a record decrease of global CO₂ emissions at nearly 2.5 billion metric tons, mainly due to the implemented restrictions around the world on traveling, work and industrial activities.