WMO: Greenhouse Gas Volume Marked a Symbolic Threshold

According to U.N World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, the amount of Greenhouse gas spiked to the highest rate in 2015. This fuels climate change and make the planet more dangerous even if government limits man-made global warming.

WMO reports said, the total percentage of carbon dioxide worldwide, a potent greenhouse gas hit 400.0 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere. This is the first time on record and was 44 percent higher than pre-Industrial Revolution Levels.

The uncontrollable growth is in contrast with a recent Paris Agreement signed by 200 country leaders. The agreement is meant to regulate emissions, phase out fossil fuels, and expand renewable energy.

In a statement of WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taala, he said, “The year 2015 ushered in a new era of optimism and climate action with the Paris climate change agreement. But it will also make history as marking a new era of climate change reality with record high greenhouse gas concentrations,”

“The key issue here is to go from this kind of political will to concrete action,” he told a news conference in Geneva. “So far we haven’t seen a major change in the behavior.”

An observatory at Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the main measuring station with records back to 1958. It “predicts that carbon dioxide concentrations will stay above 400 ppm for the whole of 2016 and not dip below that level for many generations”, he added.

WMO’s atmospheric environment research chief Oksana Tarasova seconded the notion. He said, “Carbon dioxide levels will continue rising unless the world stops burning fossil fuels and starts planting trees, the technology is there. It’s just human will. If we want we can do it”. He recalls Europe’s successful efforts to combat acid rain by tackling sulfur and nitrogen emissions.

“You can bend the curve. If you take an action and you sign a treaty and everybody follows their commitments. It’s not magic.” She added.

Taalas said, “consequences of climate change, such as weather-related disasters, were set to continue even if emissions start to come down. We could see improvement in the 2060s if we start reducing emissions now.”

Man-made warming is blamed for causing heatwaves, downpours, droughts and rising ocean levels.

El-Niño boosts CO2 levels

The WMO said, the total level percentage of CO2 were at 400.0pm globally in 2015 while 2.3ppm from 2014.

El Niño warms the eastern pacific ocean. It is also the primary reason for the recent rapid increase of CO2 globally. Further, El Niño triggers droughts and wildfires in tropical regions. It reduces the ability of forests, vegetation and oceans to absorb carbon dioxide. This leaves more CO2 in the atmosphere.

A U.N. panel of climate scientists estimates that concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are at their highest in at least 800,000 years.

“The real elephant in the room is carbon dioxide, which remains in the atmosphere for thousands of years,” Taalas said.

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Almost 200 Nations Work Out ‘Binding Deal’ on Greenhouse Gas Reduction

On Saturday, a legally binding deal by 197 nations to cut down greenhouse gasses was announced. It aims to lower down gasses used in refrigerators and air conditioners, a major step against climate change.

Two of the biggest economies in the world, the United States and China split countries into three groups. Each group will have to commit to meet different deadlines to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gasses. The said gas proved to be 10,000 times more fatal than carbon dioxide.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said: “It’s a monumental step forward”. He left the discussion of the deal on Friday in Kigali the capital of Rwandan.

The agreement states that developed nations, including Europe and US, will start to reduce their use of the gasses by 10% cut in 20196. By 2036 the developed nations target as much as 85% reduction. At present, several first world nations already initiated in reducing the use of HFCs. The United Nations estimated that phasing out HFCs will cost billions of dollars.

Two groups of developing countries pledged to halt the use of HFCs by 2024 or 2028. Similarly, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and the Gulf countries needed a longer time to reduce their use of the gas. This is due to the hot climate in the Middle East and a steadfast growth of middle classes. However, India feared the reduction of HFCs will impede its growing industries.

United Nations Environment Chief, Erik Solheim said, “Last year in Paris, we promised to keep the world safe from the worst effects of climate change. Today, we are following through on that promise”.

The Kigali deal legally binds 197 nations in an agreement to diligently fight climate change. The agreement is so extensive that it indicates specific timetables. It also contains treaties for the developed countries to help the developing countries in complying with the agreement.

Another reform for the climate change advocacy was passed last week. India, Canada, and the European Parliament ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement which forces other nations to lessen warming emissions sources.

Higher global temperature by year 2100

HFCs are the main factor for global warming, reducing the usage will eventually result in a cooler temperature. Scientists projected that without the Kigali deal there will be an increase in temperature of 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 Fahrenheit) by 2100.

In the past years, environmental groups advocate on cutting the usage of hazardous gasses like HFCs. The deal will limit the emission coming from at least 1.6 million air conditioning units to hit the market by 2050. This is due to the high demand in countries from Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

HFC replaced the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which at that time is widely used in refrigeration and aerosols. The use of the HFC gas developed after the talks on the 1987 Montreal Protocol. Both gasses caused the depletion of the ozone layer which protects the earth from ultraviolet rays linked to various skin diseases. The reduction will eventually lead to the discontinued use of hazardous gasses which is detrimental to the planet.

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