CO2 levels broke the barrier of 400 ppm.
By Rakesh Agrawal
We, the humans, have added so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from our activities, mainly by burning fossil fuels and industries that it has reached at its highest levels in four million years at Antarctic as it accumulates to its maximum strength over the poles, as Christian Science Monitor reports .
Carbon dioxide levels broke the barrier of 400 parts per million (ppm), the research journal reports.
That sounds a danger bell and as this level was reached almost a month ago, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it was on May 23, the level could be a bit higher now. And, this global annual mean concentration of carbon dioxide is the first in human history.
This level should convince the world’s policymakers to take appropriate measures to stop the ballooning levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide levels crossing this mark in Antarctica is more dangerous, as so far, “The far southern hemisphere was the last place on earth where CO2 had not yet reached this mark,” said Pieter Tans, lead scientist of NOAA’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network.
There is special a meaning for the CO2 level crossing barrier breached at the south pole, as all parts of the globe are experiencing boosted levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, Antarctica’s remote location and its consequent isolation from human industry was supposed to be insulated from this danger, but no more. And, Antarctica became the final frontier to feel the effects of fossil fuel consumption, the main cause of greenhouse gas pollution, that contain 65 percent carbon dioxide.
If we want to reduce the level of CO2 concentration, substantial and sustained cuts in anthropogenic emissions must be carried out and for this protection of green spaces and forests are a must as visit to Yosemite, the US president, President Barack Obama said this Saturday during a weekend visit to Yosemite National Park and urges Americans to help protect parks for future generations and highlights his efforts on land, water preservation. Americans should embrace their national parks as symbols of the planet’s beauty and history—and help protect them from the ravages of climate change, he said.
If only his actions on ground, aiming to carbon dioxide reduction, meaning fewer industries and a cap of fossil fuel emissions, could match his words.
1 Comment
per capita production of co2 is much higher in US than of INDIA.