 |
| source: EPA |
A report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says three main greenhouse gases, CO₂, methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO₂) have all reached record levels. Climate scientists say we are loosing the fight to prevent catastrophic climate change. The biggest rise year over year was for methane, a hydrocarbon with potent warming effects. Carbon dioxide is also rising rapidly with the annual change from 2020 to 2021 larger than the annual growth rate for the last decade. The WMO says the three gases account for almost all global warming, with carbon dioxide accounting for 80% of the rise between 1990 and 2021. Atmospheric concentrations of the three chemicals are now, respectively 149%, 262% and 124% of pre-industrial levels.
Methane and nitrous oxide can be controlled with application of technologies to industry and transportation, but carbon dioxide is a more difficult problem. Slashing carbon emissions will take concerted, global efforts over a long period of time given the long life of atmospheric CO₂. So far, countries are failing to meet their commitments made at the Paris Climate Conference and the Glasgow Climate Conference. Countries will gather again shortly in Egypt for COP27 (Conference of Parties 27th Meeting). The United Nations has issued a sober warning: with current commitments, Earth will experience catastrophic climate breakdown as warming will exceed 2.5°C. Deeper emission cuts are necessary to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5°C to avoid the worst effects of global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that emissions need to fall 45% by 2030. It is unlikely that such a drastic reduction can be achieved given the lackluster response to the crisis by most governments. Only 24 countries have updated their reduction plans as agreed in Glasgow. Some countries, in response to the supply crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have even resorted to renewed coal burning. Current diplomatic tensions between the US and China are also reducing the chances of significant progress on climate in Sharm-el-Sheik.
 |
| source: EPA |