By Phys.org

Richard York, a researcher with the Department of Sociology and Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon, has found that a measured reduction in CO2 emissions during economic downturns is not on par with the increase in CO2 emissions that is apparent during boon times.

York made this discovery after analyzing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of several nations during the period 1960 to 2008, and then comparing these values with the countries’ corresponding annual measures of CO2 emissions. The results are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Conventional thinking held that greenhouse gas emissions will tumble at the same rate as they rise depending on economic conditions. York wasn’t convinced: accordingly, he decided to study the ups and downs of the economies of 150 of the world’s major countries over the course of nearly a half century.

He then compared each country’s GDP and carbon emission measures over time. What he found was that, on average, CO2 emissions rose by 0.73 percent for every 1 percent rise in GDP during economically prosperous times, but fell just 0.43 percent for every 1 percent fall in GDP during economically depressed periods , indicating that greenhouse gasses fall at roughly half the rate that they rise.