HomeCarbon NewsGlobal Carbon Dioxide Levels Reach 4 Million Year High

Global Carbon Dioxide Levels Reach 4 Million Year High

Based on geological data gathered over the six decades that scientists have been measuring atmospheric CO2, this year’s peak seems to be the greatest in up to 4.5 million years.

Geological data reveal the three centuries ago, before the industrial civilization began, there were 280 CO2 molecules for every million molecules of air.

The amount of CO2 measured in PPM (Parts Per Million) shot up to 316 PPM back in the late 1950’s. Since then, it has climbed upwards to 419 PPM.

In other words, by burning fossil fuels in generators and automobiles, humanity has raised concentrations of the most significant greenhouse gas by 50%.

Researchers projected as early as April 2020 that pandemic-related economic disruptions that substantially lowered emissions will have almost little influence on CO2 trajectory.

The May average increased by 1.8 ppm over May 2020, which was somewhat less than the yearly growth rate in 2017 and 2011.

CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere change year to year, averaging around 2.5 ppm each year from 2010 to 2019.

The figures are influenced not just by pollution, but also by changes in the rate at which seas and plants absorb CO2.

The atmospheric concentration has a seasonal cycle, with a high in May when plants in the Northern Hemisphere (where the majority of them reside) begin to take CO2 into tissue.

Original source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/co-reaches-its-highest-level-in-more-than-4-million-years-1.1613801

SourceBloomberg
Most Popular
LiquidPiston_Proof
LATEST CARBON NEWS

HSBC Commits $1B to Climate Tech Startups Going to Net Zero

HSBC has committed $1 billion to finance climate technologies including carbon dioxide removal globally, helping startups grow and scale their clean solutions. This aligns...

Scaling the Carbon Removal Industry: The Urgent Push for a Greener Future

An analysis by the carbon removal market platform CDR.fyi shows that only 0.5% or 32 companies with Science-based targets have bought durable carbon removal....

US Saw $213B Investment in Clean Technologies, Paving the Way for Net Zero

A new database tracking the progress of the U.S. toward its decarbonization journey showed that a total of $213 billion was invested in clean...

BASF’s New Plastic Additives Reduces CO2 Emissions by 60%

German chemical giant BASF announced the launch of the first biomass balanced plastic additives that can reduce a product's carbon footprint by up to...
CARBON INVESTOR EDUCATION

Carbon Pricing: Understanding The Economics and Trends of Fighting Climate Change

As global temperatures continue to rise, the urgency surrounding climate policies has intensified, thrusting carbon pricing into the limelight of climate discussions. The race to...

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Key Things to Know

Companies operating in the European Union will have to deal with new non-financial and sustainability reporting requirements starting January 2024 with the EU's Corporate...

Who Certifies Carbon Credits?

Anybody can say that they’re offsetting their carbon footprint and get financial support for it, which is good. But here’s another version of the...

An Introduction to Hydrogen Energy

These days, with the importance of furthering the fight against climate change, more and more different options are being explored. Making the transition to...