Atmospheric CO2 hits landmark 415 ppm

[Cypress]

Carbon dioxide levels hit landmark at 415 ppm; highest in human history

Carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere hit a stunning milestone over the weekend.

Data from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii showed that carbon dioxide levels surpassed 415 parts per million Friday.

"We don't know a planet like this;" Eric Holthaus; a meteorologist and writer at Grist; wrote on Twitter.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have skyrocketed far higher than any levels in at least the past 800;000 years; data from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego and other sources show; and levels have not been this high for millions of years; Holthaus said.

"This is the first time in human history our planet's atmosphere has had more than 415 ppm CO2;" he tweeted. "Not just in recorded history; not just since the invention of agriculture 10;000 years ago. Since before modern humans existed millions of years ago."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...st/1186417001/

Australia faces 'world-first' climate change human rights case

Torres Strait Islanders say Australia's failure to tackle climate change puts their homeland and culture in danger.

Indigenous people from the low-lying Torres Strait Islands off Australia's northeast coast will file a landmark complaint with the United Nations on Monday; accusing the government of breaching their human rights by failing to tackle climate change.

The eight Torres Strait Islanders will tell the UN Human Rights Committee in the Swiss city of Geneva that rising seas caused by global warming are threatening their homelands and culture; according to lawyers representing the group.

ClientEarth; an environmental law non-profit organisation that is backing the case; said it was the first to be lodged with the UN linking alleged government inaction on climate change to the violation of human rights.
The islanders say Australia's government has no policies in place to meet the country's emissions reduction target and is pushing the interests of the fossil fuel industries.

In their complaint; the islanders ask the UN to find that international human rights law requires Australia to reduce its emissions to at least 65 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The country should become carbon neutral by 2050; phasing out its use and export of coal completely; they argue.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/...050431042.html

[reagansghost]

the planet's hosed

at this point it doesn't matter that 30% of Americans are too stupid to get it............the multi-nationals running the world economy will add more CO2 to make more money whether those assholes get it or not, and China is still bringing coal plants on line

I try to stay optimistic thinking maybe advanced carbon sequestration technology might come to be, but the MONEY to be made by big energy is the motivator for this insanity

[Cypress]

the planet's hosed

at this point it doesn't matter that 30% of Americans are too stupid to get it............the multi-nationals running the world economy will add more CO2 to make more money whether those assholes get it or not, and China is still bringing coal plants on line

I try to stay optimistic thinking maybe advanced carbon sequestration technology might come to be, but the MONEY to be made by big energy is the motivator for this insanity

The Paris agreement reached international consensus that we have to leave as much remaining hydrocarbons in the ground as possible, and not extract and burn them.

So there is no question that scientists and world governments understand that adding tens of billions more tons of heat-trapping greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is a non-starter.

As you correctly point out, there is a powerful incentive for oligarchs and oil barons to want to extract and burn the remaining trillions of barrels of oil equivalent left in the ground. They are being asked to walk away from trillions of dollars in profit. That is a tough pill for them to swallow.

While the primary underlying causes of the climatic warming of the last century are well understood at this point, I do not think the science is settled on the ultimate consequences of global warming. Assessments range from marginally bad to catastrophic. I personally think it is better to err on the side of being conservative and preparing for the possibility of something approaching a worst case scenario. I also think most people forget to think about the upsides that come from reducing hydrocarbon pollution, perfecting and improving green energy sources, and economic benefit from new technologies and industries.

[anonymoose]

the planet's hosed

at this point it doesn't matter

[anonymoose]

Australia faces 'world-first' climate change human rights case

Torres Strait Islanders say Australia's failure to tackle climate change puts their homeland and culture in danger.

Indigenous people from the low-lying Torres Strait Islands off Australia's northeast coast will file a landmark complaint with the United Nations on Monday; accusing the government of breaching their human rights by failing to tackle climate change.

The eight Torres Strait Islanders will tell the UN Human Rights Committee in the Swiss city of Geneva that rising seas caused by global warming are threatening their homelands and culture; according to lawyers representing the group.

ClientEarth; an environmental law non-profit organisation that is backing the case; said it was the first to be lodged with the UN linking alleged government inaction on climate change to the violation of human rights.
The islanders say Australia's government has no policies in place to meet the country's emissions reduction target and is pushing the interests of the fossil fuel industries.

In their complaint; the islanders ask the UN to find that international human rights law requires Australia to reduce its emissions to at least 65 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The country should become carbon neutral by 2050; phasing out its use and export of coal completely; they argue.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/...050431042.html

Good to know Australia's the culprit .
First the U.N. must propose sanctions against Australia. If that doesn't work we can propose a unified war effort against Australia to get their act together . Austalia vs. Rest of the World.

[reagansghost]

The Paris agreement reached international consensus that we have to leave as much remaining hydrocarbons in the ground as possible, and not extract and burn them.

So there is no question that scientists and world governments understand that adding tens of billions more tons of heat-trapping greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is a non-starter.

As you correctly point out, there is a powerful incentive for oligarchs and oil barons to want to extract and burn the remaining trillions of barrels of oil equivalent left in the ground. They are being asked to walk away from trillions of dollars in profit. That is a tough pill for them to swallow.

While the primary underlying causes of the climatic warming of the last century are well understood at this point, I do not think the science is settled on the ultimate consequences of global warming. Assessments range from marginally bad to catastrophic. I personally think it is better to err on the side of being conservative and preparing for the possibility of something approaching a worst case scenario. I also think most people forget to think about the upsides that come from reducing hydrocarbon pollution, perfecting and improving green energy sources, and economic benefit from new technologies and industries.

Looks to be in the 'catastrophic' range from here, pretty depressing stuff

'Brutal news': global carbon emissions jump to all-time high in 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...e-high-in-2018


‘Worrying’ rise in global CO2 forecast for 2019

...another Guardian article from 3 months back


trying hard not to be a pessimist here but......

[Sailor]

Looks to be in the 'catastrophic' range from here, pretty depressing stuff

'Brutal news': global carbon emissions jump to all-time high in 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...e-high-in-2018


‘Worrying’ rise in global CO2 forecast for 2019

...another Guardian article from 3 months back


trying hard not to be a pessimist here but......

You are fucking gullible. Easy to dupe. Look up what toxic levels of CO2 are.

[Stretch]

Looks to be in the 'catastrophic' range from here, pretty depressing stuff

'Brutal news': global carbon emissions jump to all-time high in 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...e-high-in-2018


‘Worrying’ rise in global CO2 forecast for 2019

...another Guardian article from 3 months back


trying hard not to be a pessimist here but......

I bet you talk to squirrels. Just a hunch.

[Jade Dragon]

Even though I'm Christian, I've never much bought into the four horsemen. Human kind will make it's own undoing. In perspective the Biblical way may have been less slow, and painful.

[Sailor]

Even though I'm Christian, I've never much bought into the four horsemen. Human kind will make it's own undoing. In perspective the Biblical way may have been less slow, and painful.

The fourth horseman is my favorite.

[ThatOwlWoman]

You are fucking gullible. Easy to dupe. Look up what toxic levels of CO2 are.

The issue isn't toxicity; the issue is increasing amounts of CO2 accelerating climate change. You yourself have said that you in your journeys around the globe you've seen plenty of evidence of climate change. What is the issue to you -- economics?

[Sailor]

The issue isn't toxicity; the issue is increasing amounts of CO2 accelerating climate change. You yourself have said that you in your journeys around the globe you've seen plenty of evidence of climate change. What is the issue to you -- economics?

Of course toxicity is the issue. That is exactly what is trying to be hyped here. Wrongly as usual. There is climate change. No doubt about it. Hyping it (usually for profit and grants) and making it sound like Armageddon is not helping. If anything it is hurting it.

[anonymoose]

Human kind will make it's own undoing.

Sounds like the problem is self-correcting.

[Heff]

Imagine if there was no CO2? Earth's oceans and everything in it would be frozen solid.

[Stretch]

Imagine if there was no CO2? Earth's oceans and everything in it would be frozen solid.

We could thaw out the fish and bring THEM to the bbq as well.