Carbon Dioxide Levels Reach Highest Ever Recorded Point

According to the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, carbon dioxide levels reached a new record level in April at 410 parts per million. This is the highest ever point recorded despite governments joining in to try and lower the count.

The report says that part of the blame for the rising numbers may be a result of El Nino. This is a ‘band’ of warm air that circles the Earth and which usually forms in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino had a significant influence on the rate in 1998, but the count remained at 2.7 parts per million. During 2016, the yearly average had, in contrast, risen to 3.3 parts per million.

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency considers that human activities share much of the blame for the increase. This 410 parts per million value is reportedly the highest it has been in over 800,000 years. Population growth, agricultural practices, deforestation, and the use of fossil fuel are among the causes that led to this increase.Carbon dioxide values have continued climbing over the last several years, despite all measures. Before the Industrial Revolution, it took about 100 years for the count to go up by 10 parts per million.

Scientists warn that if the record high point is not lowered, it could have devastating effects on the planet even before the start of the next century.

Officials with the United Nations will negotiate with governments around the globe to try to reduce the disquieting values. The job will not be easy, but scientists fear that, if the values are not reduced, humanity might start being unable to protect itself from the Sun, among others.