High concentrations of CO ₂ return to our lives

The Observatory of Global Atmospheric Monitoring of Izaña, dependent on the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), has confirmed that they have reached 418.7 parts per million (ppm) of average daily concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) on April 18, historical record of the series.

This year a milestone is again marked, specifically 2.2 ppm above what was achieved in 2019 and in line with the forecast, which announced a growth rate for this year as the one finally registered.

The new peak comes in a context in which several regions have significantly reduced their activity as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis. It is estimated that the temporary stoppages imposed by the pandemic situation have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by around 25% in the areas where they have occurred.

This is a figure with minimal impact on the global calculation of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, where it weighs mainly what has already accumulated in previous decades.

The emission reductions that are being recorded in certain parts of the world offer useful information to researchers, by establishing comparisons that allow analyzing and sizing the actions required to face climate change in the coming years.

According to the scientific consensus, to maintain the global increase in temperatures within a safe threshold (not to exceed an increase of 1.5ºC) it will be necessary to have been able to reduce globally in 2030 by 45% the emissions of 2017, and to have reached emissions close to zero in 2050, which implies a broad process of decarbonization that consolidates an economic model based on renewable energies.

Source: Ecoticias