Via The Guardian:
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 399.72 parts per million (ppm) and is likely to pass the symbolically important 400ppm level for the first time in the next few days.
Readings at the US government’s Earth Systems Research laboratory in Hawaii, are not expected to reach their 2013 peak until mid May, but were recorded at a daily average of 399.72ppm on 25 April. The weekly average stood at 398.5 on Monday.
Hourly readings above 400ppm have been recorded six times in the last week, and on occasion, at observatories in the high Arctic. But the Mauna Loa station, sited at 3,400m and far away from major pollution sources in the Pacific Ocean, has been monitoring levels for more than 50 years and is considered the gold standard.
“I wish it weren’t true but it looks like the world is going to blow through the 400ppm level without losing a beat. At this pace we’ll hit 450ppm within a few decades,” said Ralph Keeling, a geologist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography which operates the Hawaiian observatory.
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For more on the awful implications of this milestone in human history, check out the links below (hint: it isn’t good news for humans or animals or the ocean, either).
More links:
As CO2 Concentrations Reach Ominous Benchmark, Daily Updates Begin
Greenhouse Gas Levels Near Milestone: Highest in Millions of Years
The Last Time CO2 Was This High, Humans Didn’t Exist
I entered a ‘Like’ but really I feel more like saying I hate this. Hate the stupidity and ignorance of mankind in not seeing the blinding obvious.
Have taken the liberty of scheduling a reposting of this on Learning from Dogs for Monday; under the post title of I hate presenting this!
Shout if you are unhappy with me doing this!
Thanks Paul – and I know what you mean – “dislike, dislike, dislike”!!!
Happy to have found your great blog.
You may be interested in the interim results of the UN’s global survey of priorities at myworld2015.org. There seems to be a deep disconnect between the importance people put on such things as affordable and nutritious food, access to clean water, and protection of forests, rivers and oceans, and a near-complete lack of interest in doing something about climate change, which is enables all of the above. More details (and frustration) in this post: http://www.cellomomcars.com/2013/05/my-world-uns-global-survey.html
Thanks for dropping by, and for the heads up on the UN survey (and the link to your analysis of it on your blog). I’ve already completed it, and will be sharing it around to let other people know about it.
Catch you on twitter!