PLANET EARTH HITS A GRIM MILESTONE

Florian Gaertner via Getty Images

Earth has hit a global warming milestone from which it may never bounce back.  Mauna Loa Observatory scientists in Hawaii revealed back in 2013 that carbon dioxide levels had reached 400 parts per million for the first time in “millions of years.”

On Wednesday, Climate Central posted a graph to Twitter, which demonstrates that the world has hit its annual minimum of carbon dioxide, yet it is still above 400 ppm.

Twitter, @ClimateCentral

This means that the CO2 levels may never drop below 400 ppm again.  September is usually the month for the lowest atmospheric carbon dioxide, yet this year they have been at an all-time high.

Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps Institute for Oceanography’s carbon dioxide monitoring program, said, “I think we’re officially over for good.”

Keeling also said in a previous interview, “I think people accept the reality that CO2 is rising, but they don’t have a grasp of what it means quantitatively. I hope people remember this moment so that when they hear the carbon dioxide levels are 420 parts per million in a matter of years, they’ll say, “I remember when it was 400.”

NASA reports, “If fossil-fuel burning continues at a business-as-usual rate, such that humanity exhausts the reserves over the next few centuries, CO2 will continue to rise to levels of order of 1500 ppm.”

So what can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?  It can be as simple as turning off the lights in your home, recycling, and using less water.  You can also eat locally produced and organic food, and walk or bike instead of driving.  You can find many more ways to help our planet and reduce your carbon footprint here.

Ya Know You Wanna!