For the first time, the global average for the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached 400ppm in 2015. The levels are also expected to break records for 2016 because of El Nino caused by the warming of the Pacific Ocean.
The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said it does not expect CO2 levels to drop for many generations. In a statement, it says the increase triggered droughts in tropical regions and reduced nature’s ability to absorb the greenhouse gas.
CO2 remains for thousands of years
The secretary-general of the WMO lauded the recent decision to phase out hydrofluorocarbons which are strong greenhouse gases. But Petteri Taalas is quoted as saying “The real elephant in the room is carbon dioxide, which remains in the atmosphere for thousands of years and in the oceans even longer.”
Taalas says without tackling CO2 emissions the world cannot tackle climate change and keep temperature increases to below 2 C. That is the level which policy makers have said is the safety threshold for climate change.
‘Doom for island states’ predicted
He is further quoted as saying: “Even if the world limits warming to that benchmark, it will still likely spell doom for low-lying small island states and have serious repercussions around the world, from more extreme heat waves to droughts, coastal flooding and the extinction of many coral reefs.”
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