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CO2 Levels Likely To Stay Above 400PPM For The Rest of Our Lives, Study Shows (inhabitat.com)
An anonymous reader writes: A new study from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere are likely to remain above 400 parts per million (ppm) for many years. Specifically, scientists forecasted that levels would not dip below 400pm in "our lifetimes." The CO2 concentrations of "about 450ppm or lower are likely to maintain warming below 2 degrees Celsius over the 21st century relative to pre-industrial levels." However, lead author on the paper Richard Betts said we could pass that number in 20 years or less. In an article on The Guardian, he said even if we reduce emissions immediately, we might be able to delay reaching 450ppm but "it is still looking like a challenge to stay below 450ppm." El Nino has played a significant role in climbing carbon dioxide levels, but it's likely we'll see higher CO2 levels than the last large El Nino storm during 1997 and 1998 because "manmade emissions" have risen by 25 percent since that storm, according to The Guardian. Met Office experts predicted in November 2015 that in May 2016 "mean concentrations of atmospheric CO2" would hit 407.57ppm -- the actual figure was 407.7ppm. The NOAA reported during 2015 that the "annual growth rate" of CO2 in the atmosphere rose by 3.05ppm. NOAA lead scientist Pieter Tans said, "Carbon dioxide levels are increasing faster than they have in hundreds of thousands of years. It's explosive compared to the natural processes."
Well, this will surely be a nice conversation of well considered opinions and knowledgeable people. The sad thing is that this will generate more comments than anything else today. This is what people seem to respond to.
What I'm intrigued about is how the upcoming Trump presidency will impact climate change.
I think it's pretty clear at this point that Trump will win the presidency. He isn't facing any real competition, and even many Democrats can't bring themselves to vote for either of the potential Democratic candidates. So at least a portion of them will be voting for Trump, in addition to nearly all Republicans who do support Trump. Much of America has become tired and disillusioned after 8 years of leftist rule, and want something different. That gives Trump a win that is nearly guaranteed at this point.
His economic policies will likely turn around sagging American economic fortunes. He would be the first president in nearly 30 years who has at least voiced some concern with the current free trade situation, which does not benefit Americans as a whole. Were he to implement significant change, then America could very easily become an industrial powerhouse again, like it was before the 1990s. This economic success may result in more CO2 emissions, but it would likely also be offset by a decrease in the economic strength of foreign economies that have taken over the industry that America once had.
Allowing the American economy to flourish again will likely result in significant innovation. His economic policies, which benefit all Americans instead of just those who are in a position to exploit third-world labor (whether by bringing in third worlders or offshoring work to them). There will be demand for new technologies, including electric cars and alternative power sources that don't emit as many greenhouse gases.
I suspect that a Trump presidency would actually be the best thing for reducing climate change because his economic policies would get to the root of the problem: a stagnant American economy prevents global innovation, including the innovation that will prevent further climate change.
And there will be no impact except on vegetation. Let the shitstorm begin!