Delayed investments in renewable energy projects can offset environmental gains during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a recent study.The global crisis, caused because of lockdowns in several parts of the world, will defer clean energy investments, said Kenneth Gillingham, the lead author of the study published in journal Joule on June 19, 2020. The shortage of investments could lead to an additional 2,500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide — equal to three trillion pounds of burned coal — being released into the atmosphere, according to the worst-case scenario predicted by the study.