The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reached in May to a level 50% higher than during the pre-industrial period, which has not been heard on Earth for about 4 million years, alerts an American agency on Friday.
Global warming caused by humans, especially by electricity production using fossil fuels, transportation, cement production or even deforestation, is clearly responsible for this new peak, underlined by the Agency. American Ocean and Atmospheric Observatory (NOAA).
May is usually the month with the highest carbon dioxide levels per year.
In May 2022, it exceeded the bar of 420 parts per million (ppm), a unit of measurement used to count air pollution. In May 2021, this rate was 419 ppm, and in 2020, 417 ppm.
These measurements were taken at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii, which is ideally located on the high volcano, allowing it not to be influenced by local pollution.
Comparable to 4 million years ago
Before the industrial revolution, CO2 levels were maintained in a consistent manner at around 280 ppm, and this for approximately 6000 years of human civilization that preceded it, according to NOAA.
Reached the level now are comparable to what is past between 4.1 and 4.5 million years ago, when CO2 levels were near or above 400 ppmthe agency said in a statement.
Previously, the sea level was 5 to 25 meters high, enough for many of the major cities today to be under water. And large forests cover part of the Arctic, according to studies.
Heat, drought, fire and flood
CO2 is a greenhouse gas with a heat trapping effect, which is gradually causing global warming. It remains in the atmosphere and oceans for thousands of years.
This warming is already having dramatic consequences, recalled NOAAincluding rising heat waves, drought, fire or flood.
” Carbon dioxide is at a level our species has never seen before – and that’s not new. We have known this for half a century and have failed to do anything meaningful. What does it take for us to wake up? “
Source: Radio-Canada
