  In this paper, we analysed real-time measurements of atmospheric CO$_2$ with
total electricity production and nation-wide restrictions phases due to the
novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects on atmospheric CO$_2$
concentrations. A decline of 3.7% in the global energy demand at about 150
million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in the first quarter (Q1), of 2020 was
recorded, as compared to the same first quarter (Q1), of 2019, due to the
cutback on global economic activities. Our results showed that: 1) electricity
production for the same period in the years 2018, 2019, and 2020, shrunk at an
offset of about 9.20%, which resulted in the modest reduction of about
(-1.79%), in the atmospheric CO$_2$, to that of 2017-2018 CO$_2$ level; 2) a
non-seasonal abrupt; but brief, atmospheric CO$_2$ decrease by about 0.85% in
mid-February 2020, could be due to the Phase 1 movement restrictions in China.
The results showed that, the reduction in electricity production is significant
to the short-term variability of atmospheric CO$_2$. It also highlights the
significant contributions from China to the atmospheric CO$_2$, which suggests
that, without the national restriction of activities, CO$_2$ concentration are
set to exceed 2019 by 1.79%, but it quickly decreased due to the lockdown, and
sustained the reduction for two consecutive months. The results underscore the
atmospheric CO$_2$ reductions on the monthly time scale that can be achieved,
if electricity production from combustible sources were slashed, which could be
useful for cost-benefit analyses of the reduction in electricity production
from combustible sources, and the impact of these reduction to the atmospheric
CO$_2$.
