|
0 tonnes
|
Global CO2 emissions for long-term stabilization of atmospheric CO2
“Stabilizing atmospheric CO2 and climate requires that
net CO2 emissions approach zero”
~ J Hansen et al.
Source 1: J Hansen et al via NASA | Target Atmospheric CO2 | 2008
Source 2: IPCC via CO2Now | AR4 WG1 FAQ 10.3 | 2007
Related: TED Talks | Bill Gates on Energy: Innovating to Zero | 2010 |
|
0 w/m 2
watts per square meter
|
Global energy balance & the end of global warming x
“Stabilizing climate requires, to first order, that we restore Earth’s energy balance.
If the planet once again radiates as much energy to space as it absorbs from the sun,
there no longer will be a drive causing the planet to get warmer.”
~ Dr. James Hansen
Source: J Hansen | Conversation with Bill McKibben | 2010 |
|
0.58 W/m2
(± 0.15)
|
Global energy imbalance from humanity's GHG emissions | 2005 - 2010
Source: NASA | Earth's Energy Budget Remained Out of Balance | 2012
Also: NASA | Abstract & Related Links | 2012
Also: Hansen et al. | Earth's Energy Balance and Implications | 2011
Also: Hansen | Storms of My Grandchildren p. 102 | 2009
Excerpt from Earth's Energy Budget Remained Out of Balance:
"A new NASA study underscores the fact that greenhouse gases generated by human activity — not changes in solar activity — are the primary force driving global warming.
The study offers an updated calculation of the Earth's energy imbalance, the difference between the amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth's surface and the amount returned to space as heat. The researchers' calculations show that, despite unusually low solar activity between 2005 and 2010, the planet continued to absorb more energy than it returned to space." |
|
1.49 ppm per year
parts per million |
Atmospheric CO2 | Average Annual Rise | 1993 - 2002
April Data Only
Calculations by CO2Now are based on NOAA CO2 data (Mauna Loa Observatory) posted May 7, 2012 |
|
1.99 ppm per year
parts per million |
Atmospheric CO2 | Average Annual Rise | 2003 - 2012
April Data Only The rate of increase for the latest decade is higher than any decade since the start of the atmospheric CO2 instrument record in March 1958.
Calculations are based on NOAA CO2 data (Mauna Loa Observatory) posted May 7, 2012
More Info:
CO2Now | Acceleration of Atmospheric CO2 |
|
8.07 pH |
Ocean Acidification: Average pH of Surface Oceans | 2005
Average pH of surface oceans has declined about 0.1 units since before the industrial revolution. This is an increase of about 30% in the concentration of hydrogen ions which is a considerable acidification of the oceans.
“…world leaders should take account of the impact of CO2 on ocean chemistry,
as well as on climate change…we recommend that all possible approaches
be considered to prevent CO2 reaching the atmosphere.”
~ The Royal Society (2005)
Source 1: The Royal Society | Ocean acidification due to atmospheric CO2 | 2005
Source 2: Wikipedia | Ocean Acidification |
|
13.7 °C |
100-Year Average Global Surface Temperature for April | 1901 - 2000
Source: NOAA-NCDC State of the Climate – Global Analysis |
|
14.35 °C |
Average Global Surface Temperature* | April 2012
April 2012 marks the 5th warmest April since temperature records began in 1880. April 2010 marked the warmest. April 1909 is recorded as the coolest.
Rankings are based on preliminary data reported May 15, 2012 by NOAA-NCDC.
Annually, 2011 is the 11th warmest year on record.
2010 is the warmest year and tied statistically with 2005.
Source:
NOAA-NCDC | Latest State of the Climate Report – Global Analysis
More Info:
CO2Now | Global Temperature Update
* Average global surface temperature is constructed by adding the estimated average for the 20th Century and the latest anomoly from the 20th Century average. |
|
172 ppm |
Atmospheric CO2 | Lowest level in 2.1 million years
Source: Science | Atmospheric CO2 Across the Mid-Pleistocene | 2009
More Info: Science Daily | CO2 Higher Today Than Last 2.1 Million Years | 2009 |
|
194 countries
|
Signatories to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The United Nation’s ultimate climate objective “is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.” (See UNFCCC Article 2 and UNFCCC media releases)
More Info: 350.org | 112 Countries for 350 ppm / 1.5 °C
More Info: AFP | Top UN Climate Scientist Supports 350 Goal
Note: In the event that other countries (or the UNFCCC as a whole) adopts a quantified atmospheric stabilization target for CO2 or any other greenhouse gases, it will be posted in The CO2Now Climate Sheet. |
|
280 ppm |
Atmospheric CO2 | Pre-Industrial Revolution
Atmospheric CO2 was stable at about 280 ppm for almost 10,000 years until 1750. |
|
300 ppm |
Atmospheric CO2 | Highest level in at least 2.1 million years (pre-industrial)
Circa 1912, atmospheric CO2 levels breached the 300 ppm threshold for the first time in at least 2.1 million years. |
|
350 ppm
|
Atmospheric CO2 | Upper Safety Limit
“If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm, but likely less than that… If the present overshoot of this target CO2 is not brief, there is a possibility of seeding irreversible catastrophic effects.”
~ J Hansen et al
Source 1: Open Atmospheric Science | Target Atmospheric CO2 | 2008
Source 2: Nature | A Safe Operating Space for Humanity | 2009
Source 3: SRC Ecology & Society | Planetary Boundaries | 2009
More Info: 350.org | Science of 350 |
|
393.28 ppm |
Atmospheric CO2 | April 2011 | Mauna Loa Observatory
Data posted May 7, 2012 by NOAA-ESRL
CO2Now Links to Source Data | Atmospheric CO2 data from NOAA & Scripps |
|
396.18 ppm |
Atmospheric CO2 | April 2012 | Mauna Loa Observatory
Preliminary data posted by
May 7, 2012 by NOAA-ESRL
CO2Now Links to Source Data | Atmospheric CO2 data from NOAA & Scripps |
|
885 ppm |
Atmospheric CO2 | Projection for Year 2100
This projection is made in C-ROADS, a scientifically reviewed climate simulator. The analysis accounts for the voluntary emissions reductions pledges of parties to the UNFCCC. This CO2 level represents a global temperature increase of about 4.5 °C.
Source: Climate Interactive Analysis of September 2011
Implications: The Royal Society | Four Degrees and Beyond | 2011 |
|
7,010,444,747 |
World Population | May 1, 2012
More than 7 billion people are living on planet Earth. If humanity is to achieve a stabilization of atmospheric CO2 at safe levels, this is roughly the number of people who will need to be aligned with net CO2 emissions that approach zero. (See “0 tonnes” in this Climate Sheet.)
Source:
International Programs Center, US Census Bureau
More information about population:
PopulationMatters.org
World Population | Wikipedia
Bonus Media Coverage:
National Geographic | 7 Billion
|
|
36.8 billion
metric tonnes |
Humanity's Global CO2 Emissions (including land use) | 2010
2010 global CO2 emissions are the highest in human history. Global fossil fuel emissions made up 91% of the total, or 33.5 billion metric tonnes. The Global Carbon Project (GCP) posted data for 2010 on December 5, 2011.
Source: Nature Geoscience & GCP | See "Global Carbon Emissions" at CO2Now |
