CO2 Levels Rise Above 400 PPM: You Will Never See Lower Again!

During the last few years, the levels of CO2 at the Mauna Loa Observatory reaches 400 parts per million (ppm) during a porton of the year, but now CO2 levels have risen so high that we have reached an historical milestone:  the concentrations of C02 will not drop below 400 ppm for hundreds of years or more.   In short, we have permanently crossed the 400 ppm "barrier".

CO2 levels are measured at several locations around the world, but the longest record is on top of a volcanic peak in the Hawaiian Island (Mauna Loa).  As you can see from the record there (kept by NOAA), the rise in CO2 has been going on since the last 1950s, when record keeping began there.

 If you look carefully, you will notice the CO2 concentrations have both a long term trend and an annual cycle.   Below is a plot for the last year.   During the warm season from late Spring to early fall, plants grow and take in CO2 for photosynthesis, which reduces CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.   In contrast, CO2 levels tend to rise in the winter as plants die and decompose, releasing CO2 back into the air.

As shown in the figure above, CO2 levels rose to about 408 ppm in May/June and now have dropped to roughly 400.5 ppm.   Since CO2 levels typically start rising again in October, there is little chance of sinking below 400 ppm.  Ever again.

But if you really want to be impressed, here are the CO2 levels for the last 800 thousand years, with the information before 1958 coming from the analysis of the CO2 concentrations of air trapped in ancient ice.  CO2 is higher now than at ANY time in the history of our species.  That gets you thinking.

With all the wind farms and solar collection units being put into service, surely the CO2 increases are slowing, right?   Unfortunately, as show by the figure below, the OPPOSITE is happening, with the rate of CO2 concentrations  increasing faster and faster.    We are not only losing ground, but we are losing ground more quickly.

 Why is this happening?  Because countries such as China have rapidly industrialized and worked hard to improve the lives of their citizens; to do that took a lot of energy, and particularly burning coal.   The figure below shows the story by displaying the CO2 emissions of China, US, Europe, and India.  The US and Europe have actually reduced their carbon emissions.

The rapid growth in CO2 levels has stark implications for global warming....it is going to happen in a major way unless we do something very dramatic.  To paraphrase the Donald:  We have to do something HUGE.

That is why I am supporting Washington State's I732 carbon tax swap, which will put a tax on carbon, but refund all the proceeds to WA State citizens.  I 732 is a bipartisan effort that could spread throughout the U.S.    This will not only reduce the emission of CO2 in the U.S., but will greatly foster the development of energy technologies that could be exported to the rest of the world.    Think of all the technologies that started in our creative country and then were exported abroad.  We can do it again with energy conservation and generation technologies.

Although passing the 400 ppm is nothing to celebrate, it does provide a reason to pause and think about what we have done to our atmosphere and the profound implications such a rapid CO2 rise has for our climate and survival as a species.

Unfortunately, some major environment groups such as the Sierra Club, the Washington Environmental Council,  and The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, as well as carbon-loving business groups like the Association of Washington Businesses don't seem to understand the seriousness of the current situation.  Hopefully, Washington State voters will understand that the time for playing politics and self-interest are past and will vote for I-732 in large numbers.