Climate crisis: CO2 levels rise to highest point since evolution of humans

Levels of the damaging greenhouse gas carbon dioxide have reached an alarming new milestone at the world’s oldest measuring station in Hawaii.

Burning fossil fuels remains the biggest producer of CO2. 

The Mauna Loa Observatory, which has measured the parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere since 1958, took a reading of 415.26ppm in the air on 11 May – thought to be the highest concentration since humans evolved.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography measures CO2 levels at Mauna Loa daily. The observatory, on Hawaii’s largest volcano, was built to test air quality on the remote Pacific islands because it is far from continents and pollution, while the area lacks vegetation, which can interfere with results.

Read the story from the Independent by Harry Cockburn - “Climate crisis: CO2 levels rise to highest point since evolution of humans.”

Why there’s more greenhouse gas in the atmosphere than you may have realised

This week brought news that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels at the Mauna Loa atmospheric observatory in Hawaii have risen steeply for the seventh year in a row, reaching a May 2019 average of 414.7 parts per million (ppm).

The Cape Grim observatory, home of the ‘world’s
 cleanest air’… and rising greenhouse gases. 

It was the highest monthly average in 61 years of measurements at that observatory, and comes five years after CO₂ concentrations first breached the 400ppm milestone.

But in truth, the amount of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere is higher still. If we factor in the presence of other greenhouse gases besides carbon dioxide, we find that the world has already ticked past yet another milestone: 500ppm of what we call “CO₂-equivalent”, or CO₂-e.

Read the story from The Conversation - “Why there’s more greenhouse gas in the atmosphere than you may have realised.”

Hawaii becomes first state to enact law that aligns with Paris agreement

Hawaii has become the first state to enact a law that aligns with the Paris agreement after its governor signed two bills into law Tuesday that "support the commitments and goals" of the accord, Gov. David Ige's office announced Tuesday.

Hawaii became the first state Tuesday to enact
a law that aligns with the Paris agreement.

The governor, as well as the state's county mayors and state representatives gathered in Honolulu to sign two bills and a mayor's agreement in support of the Paris agreement, according to a press release.

Ige signed Senate Bill 559, which "expands strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide," the release states. Ige also signed House Bill 1578, which aims to "identify agricultural and aquacultural practices to improve soil health and promote carbon sequestration – the capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change."

Read the U.S. ABC News story - “Hawaii becomes first state to enact law that aligns with Paris agreement.”

Carbon Dioxide Could Reach 410 PPM This Month

A never-ending stream of carbon pollution ensures that each year the world continues to break records for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This year will be no different.

Like a rite of spring, carbon dioxide is poised to cruise pass the previous mark set last year and reach heights unseen in human history. In the coming weeks, carbon dioxide will start to breach the 410 parts per million threshold on a daily basis at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The monthly average for May could come close to topping 410 ppm, too, according to the U.K. Met Office’s inaugural carbon dioxide forecast, released last week.

Richard Betts, a climate scientist who helped create the forecast, said we should pass last year’s record-setting monthly peak by April or even as soon as this month. It’s not a question of if but rather when depending on wind patterns and other factors that influence daily measurements.

This year’s new high-water mark comes a year after the planet passed the 400 ppm threshold permanently on the back of the greatest yearly rise in carbon dioxide on record. That dramatic rise was driven in part by last year’s super El Niño, but the underlying cause of the steady uptick is human activities that emit carbon pollution.

Read Brian Kahn’s story on Climate Central - “Carbon Dioxide Could Reach 410 PPM This Month.”

What's happening in China could help change the world

We got a timely alert on the growing dangers of climate change this week, when scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration teamed up with their counterparts from 61 other nations to report from the front lines of climate chaos in 2015.

Guilin, China

Global temperatures set records on land and at sea. So did atmospheric levels of climate-disrupting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which averaged 400.8 parts per million at the monitoring station at Mauna Loa, Hawaii. That’s a staggering 43 percent higher than when .the Industrial Revolution ushered in the widespread burning of coal, gas, and oil.

The result: widespread hazard and harm worldwide.

Global sea level was the highest on record. Vast walrus herds were forced onto land as Arctic sea ice fell to 29 percent below average and warming waters drove out important fish like polar cod. Alpine glaciers retreated worldwide — for the 36th year in a row.

Read Rhea Suh’s NRDC story - “What I Saw in China Will Help Change the World.”

Solar Impulse 2 flies around-the-world powered by the sun and makes history

T

he Solar Impulse 2 aircraft has completed a historic flight in its quest to circle the globe without consuming a drop of fuel, touching down gracefully in Hawaii after the most arduous leg of its journey.

Solar Impulse 2 -
around-the-world
powered by just the sun.

The sun-powered plane, piloted by veteran Swiss aviator Andre Borschberg, took 118 hours — about five days — to make the voyage from Japan to Hawaii and landed shortly after dawn at Kalaeloa Airport on the main Hawaiian island of Oahu.

"Just landed in #Hawaii with @solarimpulse! For @bertrandpiccard and I, it's a dream coming true," Mr Borschberg tweeted triumphantly after completing the most perilous part of the around-the-world odyssey.

Mr Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have been alternating the long solo flights and Japan to Hawaii — where it was Borschberg in sole control — was the eighth of 13 legs

Read the ABC story - “Solar Impulse 2 aircraft lands in Hawaii after completing historic flight in quest to circle the globe”.