Carbon Dioxide Levels Hit Record High (again)
For the 30th year in a row, the levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere has reached its highest. Previously, the highest emission was last year, in 2014. It seems to be increasing every year, which can cause some serious damage for our planet. Secretary-General Michel Jarraud of the World Meteorological Organization said, "Every year we say that time is running out. We have to act NOW to slash greenhouse gas emissions if we are to have a chance to keep the increase in temperatures to manageable levels." Every year, we've been saying that we're running out of time, but we never took serious measure to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gases. This time, we have to be serious and keep our word if we're going to make any difference in the increasing temperatures. Jarraud's plan is to do whatever it takes to cut back on emissions, which mainly come from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
For years, we've been saying that we need to change our ways but we never did. After 30 years, you'd think we would've realized that we need to start as soon as possible. Now's the time to take action and save the Earth, it's not too late. The problem of the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions is that if we don't get the levels down, then we would be facing some very serious consequences. Oksana Tarasova of the WMO said, "It means hotter global temperatures, more extreme weather events like heat waves and floods, melting ice, rising sea levels and increased acidity of the oceans." The rise in carbon dioxide levels is only being magnified by higher levels of water vapor, which is also rising because of more carbon dioxide emissions. The other two major man-made greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide, have also continued to rise in recent years, at the fastest rate for a decade. Later this month, a conference in Paris will take place, led by the top greenhouse emitters, China and the United States. More than 150 countries have released plans to limit emissions. I believe that we can really do this. I think cutting back on fossil fuel burning and stopping deforestation would be most beneficial. It seems like a lot of countries are really willing to reduce emissions and are trying to help preserve our planet for generations to come.
Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/co2-levels-hit-record-high-for-30th-year-in-a-row/
Article in source written by Tom Miles
For years, we've been saying that we need to change our ways but we never did. After 30 years, you'd think we would've realized that we need to start as soon as possible. Now's the time to take action and save the Earth, it's not too late. The problem of the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions is that if we don't get the levels down, then we would be facing some very serious consequences. Oksana Tarasova of the WMO said, "It means hotter global temperatures, more extreme weather events like heat waves and floods, melting ice, rising sea levels and increased acidity of the oceans." The rise in carbon dioxide levels is only being magnified by higher levels of water vapor, which is also rising because of more carbon dioxide emissions. The other two major man-made greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide, have also continued to rise in recent years, at the fastest rate for a decade. Later this month, a conference in Paris will take place, led by the top greenhouse emitters, China and the United States. More than 150 countries have released plans to limit emissions. I believe that we can really do this. I think cutting back on fossil fuel burning and stopping deforestation would be most beneficial. It seems like a lot of countries are really willing to reduce emissions and are trying to help preserve our planet for generations to come.
Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/co2-levels-hit-record-high-for-30th-year-in-a-row/
Article in source written by Tom Miles