400ppm
Last week our planet quietly and inexorably passed a new threshold, leading to a new future for humanity. Last week, for the first time in human history, a daily average of 400ppm of carbon dioxide was recorded. It is at least three million years since there has been this much carbon in the atmosphere.
This takes us way past the 350ppm that is the safe upper level for stabilising global warming at two degrees. Since reading Judy's post I feel like I have been in mourning. I keep looking at the children and in my head I am saying, 'Oh my darlings, I am so sorry that we have done this to your future.'
As one of the scientists in the article above said, 400 is just a number - we have been skirting it by a degree or two for some time. But it is psychologically significant. I feel like I have had a blow to the solar plexus. I feel that now - it is impossible not to do something.
I can't understand why this is not on the front page of every newspaper in the world.
This takes us way past the 350ppm that is the safe upper level for stabilising global warming at two degrees. Since reading Judy's post I feel like I have been in mourning. I keep looking at the children and in my head I am saying, 'Oh my darlings, I am so sorry that we have done this to your future.'
As one of the scientists in the article above said, 400 is just a number - we have been skirting it by a degree or two for some time. But it is psychologically significant. I feel like I have had a blow to the solar plexus. I feel that now - it is impossible not to do something.
I can't understand why this is not on the front page of every newspaper in the world.
Comments
There is so much to think about. I tell you, it has definitely given some impetus to my flagging resolve to reduce our electricity consumption... and everything else..