Skip to content
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Is it getting hot in here? Greenhouse gas levels hit historic highs

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
Effects of CO2 and Methane could linger till 2100

Atmospheric temperatures have climbed much faster than scientists have expected and the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a record high last years according to new research published by the U.N.'s agency on meteorology.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/10/2014 (9 years ago)

Published in Green

Keywords: Green, Science, Global Warming, Climate Change, International

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - This new data, released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) showed that between 2012 and 2013 carbon dioxide levels rose more than at any other year since 1984. The study indicated that this could be due to a decline in the Earth's ability to absorb CO2 emissions that have built up in the atmosphere.

You can be a light in the darkness with "prayer and action."

"It may be due to the reduced uptake of CO2 by the biosphere," said WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud. "If that is confirmed, it is of significant concern."

Jarraud said that more research would be required to confirm this theory.


"We know without any doubt that our climate is changing and our weather is becoming more extreme due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels," he said.

In 2013 the concentration of all major greenhouse gases passed all previous levels. The atmosphere's CO2 level was more than 1.5 times it pre-industrial level, and methane levels were twice as high as earlier.

That report urged scientists to again call for urgent attention to climate change ahead of a climate summit at the U.N. General Assembly this month.

"We have the knowledge and we have the tools for action to try to keep temperature increases within two degrees Celsius (3.6 F) to give our planet a chance and to give our children and grandchildren a future. Pleading ignorance can no longer be an excuse for not acting," Jarraud said.

Even if human-made carbon emissions fall by 80% by 2050, the warming effect of greenhouse gases will have barely receded by 2100. The longer fossil fuel use continues the harder it will be to reverse the warming effect, the WMO said.

"Past, present and future CO2 emissions will have a cumulative impact on both global warming and ocean acidification. The laws of physics are non-negotiable," Jarraud said. "We are running out of time."

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.