Atmospheric CO2 concentration hits record high in 800,000 years

The last time Earth had CO2 concentrations equivalent to the 2016 "peak" was about 3-5 million years ago.

According to Mirror, the United Nations Weather Organization has just issued a warning that the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere increased at a record rate in 2016 - the highest in the past 800,000 years. Specifically, the average CO2 concentration in the atmosphere in 2016 was 403.3 parts per million (ppm), up from 400 ppm in 2015.

The rate of increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration in 2016 was the highest on record compared to the past 800,000 years. (Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins).

The last time the Earth had CO2 concentrations comparable to the 2016 peak was about 3-5 million years ago, when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and sea levels were 10-20 meters higher. In the past 70 years alone, the rate of increase in atmospheric CO2 has been nearly 100 times higher than during the last ice age, the WMO said.

Since 1990, the average global temperature has increased by 40% due to the greenhouse gas effect. Of which, from 2015 to 2016 alone, this figure accounted for 2.5%. Population growth, deforestation, industrialization and the use of energy from fossil fuels,... are considered the main causes contributing to the above consequences.

"The numbers don't lie. We're still emitting too much, and that needs to be addressed," said Erik Solheim, head of the UN Environment Programme. "In recent years, we've been using a lot of renewable energy, but now we have to double or triple that effort."

"We have a lot of solutions to this challenge. What we need now is global political will and a real sense of urgency," Erik Solheim added.

Increased CO2 concentrations will result in increased global temperatures.

Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that it was necessary to quickly cut CO2 and other greenhouse gases to avoid "dangerous temperature increases" that could exceed the set limit by 2100. "Future generations will inherit a much harsher planet," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

"Atmospheric CO2 remains in the atmosphere and in the oceans for hundreds of years, even longer. In theory, we will face a hotter and more extreme climate in the future," added Mr. Petteri Taalas.

According to Khoahoc.tv