Greenhouse Gases
 
1. GREENHOUSE GAS LEVELS

  • Currently, the IPCC’s worst‐case scenario forecasts are being realized or exceeded, leading to a catastrophic 1000 parts per million of CO2 by end of century. To preserve the planet in a similar state as now, humankind must aim to reduce CO2 levels from the current 385 parts per million to a stabilized target of 350 parts per million.
  • Carbon sinks are saturating and becoming carbon sources that add rather than absorb greenhouse gases:
    • Global plant growth is in a decade-long decline (2000-2009) due to climate change-induced stress from drought. (Science, Aug 2010)
    • The ocean has absorbed so much CO2 that it is acidifying at an alarming rate.
      (University of Bristol researchers, in Nature Geoscience, 2010)

  • With just a 2-degree Celsius average global rise, billions of tons of methane could be released from the Arctic, leading to mass extinctions of life.

2. RISING TEMPERATURES

  • Without drastic action now, a worst-case scenario rise of 4 degrees Celsius, which means spread of deserts, collapse of the Amazon, and massive release of methane and CO2 gases from melted permafrost, will actually be reached as early as 2060, with a catastrophic  warming of 5-7 degrees likely by century’s end. (UK Met Office, 2009)
  • Scientists report that the first eight months of 2010 have been the hottest on record globally. (NASA, 2010)
  • 2010 was also the year when unprecedented heat and high temperatures were recorded in 16 countries, the highest number ever, including Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Chad, Niger, Russia, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
  • In the past century alone, the temperature has climbed 0.7 degrees Celsius, at a rate 10 times faster than historic norms, due to human causes.
  • The past ten years have seen the hottest average annual temperatures ever recorded in our planet’s history. (US NASA, 2010)
  • Without mitigation, much of the USA, for instance, by end of the century would have extreme temperatures of 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). (Geophysical Research Letters paper, 2008)
  • Pledges made by governments in Copenhagen to reduce greenhouse gases are not enough to avert runaway climate change. They would still lead to a dangerous temperature increase of more than 3 degrees Celsius. (US Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2010)


 Reference
Latest News
UK evaluates potential dangers of gas drilling from shale. - 14 Feb 2011
Steep global temperature increase from continued fossil fuel burning. - 1 Feb 2011
Canadian researchers predict eliminating CO2 today won't halt climate change. - 17 Jan 2011
Heavy oils and tar sands create more emissions. - 6 Jan 2011
Rivers releasing potent greenhouse gas. - 5 Jan 2011
Climate change converts forests into carbon emitters. - 20 Dec 2010
Black carbon: an opportunity for near-term mitigation of global warming. - 18 Dec 2010
Greenhouse gases reached record levels in 2009. - 27 Nov 2010
Greenhouse gases reached record levels in 2009. - 27 Nov 2010
China plans to reduce dioxin emissions. - 12 Nov 2010
Dr. Peter Carter’s Zero Carbon World Play
“Beyond 4 Degrees” Dr. David Karoly’s Assessment of Climate Change Play
High Level Dialogue: Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific Play
Climate Change AD - Extreme Rise in Dangerous Methane Play
Earth's Tipping Points - In-Depth with Dr. James Hansen, Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies-Part 1 Play
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Maldives to phase-out Earth-harming chemicals - 22 Feb 2010
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Copenhagen pledges will not stop planetary demise - 22 Feb 2010
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Methane emissions foretell runaway climate change - 27 Jan 2010
27
Trees absorb less carbon as climate warms - 22 Jan 2010
26
Melting tundra releases immense carbon stores - 20 Jan 2010
25
Siberian Arctic temperatures and methane emissions sharply increased - 13 Jan 2010
24
UK unveils 20-year plan for low carbon agriculture - 8 Jan2010
23
Current emission goals put world on path for 3 degree temperature rise - 1 Jan 2009
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New book by Dr. James Hansen warns of last chance to save humanity - 31 Dec 2009
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Scientists concerned about future temperature rise - 21 Dec 2009
20
Earth on path to warm by a disastrous 6 degrees Celsius - 25 Nov 2009
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Leading scientist calls for more immediate emission reductions - 19 Oct 2009
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France to establish new carbon tax to address climate change - 13 Sep 2009
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Methane gas released from lakes in Arctic region - 9 Sep 2009
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Global warming accelerates carbon dioxide release - 4 Aug 2009
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Arctic permafrost could release vast amounts of greenhouse gases - 4 Jul 2009
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At current carbon dioxide levels, seas could still rise 25 meters -3 Jul 2009
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Scientists call for reduced carbon emissions to prevent oceanic catastrophe - 15 Jun 2009
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Mexican President pledges to dramatically reduce carbon emissions - 8 Jun 2009
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Carbon dioxide levels at record high - 8 May 2009
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Climate Change Complicates Ozone Recovery - 23 Apr 2009
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Top climate scientist Dr. James Hansen speaks of our planetary emergency - 18 Apr 2009
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Methane gas rises from ocean depths off Costa Rica - 7 Apr 2009
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Carbon Sinks Losing The Battle With Rising Emissions - 6 Apr 2009
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Global temperatures 'will rise 6C this century' - 13 Mar 2009
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Australia fires release huge amount of CO2 -2 Mar 2009
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Threat from global warming escalated - 27 Feb 2009
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Global warming is already 'irreversible' - 1 Feb 2009
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Dr. James Hansen:'We have only four years left to act on climate change - America has to lead' - 22 Jan 2009
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Rise in CO2 'affects jumbo squid' - 4 Jan 2009
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