Joining the dinosaurs

Sharp rise in CO2 levels recorded

BBC News: US climate scientists have recorded a significant rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, pushing it to a new record level.

BBC News has learned the latest data shows CO2 levels now stand at 381 parts per million (ppm) - 100ppm above the pre-industrial average.

The research indicates that 2005 saw one of the largest increases on record - a rise of 2.6ppm.

The figures are seen as a benchmark for climate scientists around the globe. ...

The precise level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is of global concern because climate scientists fear certain thresholds may be "tipping points" that trigger sudden changes.

The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King, said the new data highlighted the importance of taking urgent action to limit carbon emissions.

"Today we're over 380 ppm," he said. "That's higher than we've been for over a million years, possibly 30 million years. Mankind is changing the climate".

I wonder if someday people will look at the failure to elect the pro-environment Al Gore in 2000 as the biggest mistake in human history.

'Dinosaurs Play With Cars' illustration from Mark Teague's "How Do Dinosaurs...?" series via Every Picture Tells a Story.