Nobel laureate and atmospheric scientist Paul J. Crutzen observes in an article by the AP that the slowdown in the global economy may temporarily improve the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Slower economic growth worldwide could help slow growth of carbon dioxide emissions and trigger more careful use of energy resources, though the global economic turmoil may also divert focus from efforts to counter climate change, said Crutzen, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the depletion of the ozone layer.

 

It's a cruel thing to say ... but if we are looking at a slowdown in the economy, there will be less fossil fuels burning, so for the climate it could be an advantage," Crutzen told Reuters in an interview.

 

We could have a much slower increase of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere ... people will start saving (on energy use) ... but things may get worse if there is less money available for research and that would be serious."

Now, this is no reason to hope for a protracted economic slowdown.  The goal of solving the climate crisis is to reduce the harmful effects of climate change while continuing to develop sustainably and with new forms of energy that do not threaten the environment.  On the other end of the economic crisis, however, we may have additional, powerful evidence to show those who doubt the impact of human activity.