Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
February 2026 Atmospheric CO2 Content 429.35 ppm; February 2025 427.09 ppm; February 2024 424.55 ppm (Original Post) hatrack Mar 6 OP
I'm so old... -misanthroptimist Mar 6 #1
And after this year, we'll never see 430 ppm or lower again . . . hatrack Mar 6 #2
While I think CC will kill billions of people... -misanthroptimist Mar 6 #3
True, in that we're a pretty weedy species . . . hatrack Mar 6 #5
It was about 310 in 1958 according to data from Mauna Loa surfered Mar 6 #4
And every ppm represents 2.13 billion tons of CO2 . . . hatrack Mar 6 #6
We're toast! surfered Mar 6 #7

hatrack

(64,757 posts)
2. And after this year, we'll never see 430 ppm or lower again . . .
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 08:53 AM
Mar 6

. . . by which I mean any of our species.

-misanthroptimist

(1,593 posts)
3. While I think CC will kill billions of people...
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 09:15 AM
Mar 6

...I think that our species will survive. We are very clever individually and in small groups. If Earth can sustain life, there will be people who figure out how to survive, imo. It may not be many and they may be (almost certainly will be) miserable, they'll survive.

hatrack

(64,757 posts)
5. True, in that we're a pretty weedy species . . .
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 09:25 AM
Mar 6

That said, not sure that people in 2150 or 2300 will be doing much work on tracking atmospheric trace gases, or will even remember how that works.

hatrack

(64,757 posts)
6. And every ppm represents 2.13 billion tons of CO2 . . .
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 09:27 AM
Mar 6

And the last pound of each ton we emit won't be absorbed by natural systems for +/- 25,000 years - data points that seem to get, uh, overlooked, in press release "news" about "carbon sequestration" and "direct air capture".

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»February 2026 Atmospheric...