Carbon dioxide levels grew at record pace in 2016, U.N. says

Reuters reports this morning that global CO2 levels are rising at a record pace  "potentially fuelling a 20-metre rise in sea levels and adding 3 degrees to temperatures, the United Nations said on Monday." This news comes as, of course, the U.S. President and much of Congress pretend to be ostriches when it comes to climate change. In fact, "Since 1990, the global warming effect of CO2 and other long-lived greenhouse gases has risen by 40 percent. The two other main gases - methane and nitrous oxide - also grew to record concentrations last year, although at a slower rate of increase than carbon dioxide."

Of course, while the rate of growth is now at record highs, the total CO2 concentration is also at an all-time high of about 410 parts per million (ppm), well above the preindustrial level of 275 ppm.

So, to summarize, the gas that is warming the planet is at record levels, is rising faster than ever, and this despite electric cars, solar panels, and the Paris Climate Agreement. We are going to have to do much more, and soon, if we are to slow this process. Sadly, neither the U.S. or Glendale are yet on track to solve this problem.