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CIAO Focus, April 2010: Global Climate Change after Copenhagen
GREENHOUSE GASES
- Atmospheric concentration of CO2increased from the pre-industrial range of 275-285 ppm (parts per million) to 379 ppm in 2005.
- The absolute growth rate of CO2increased substantially: the first 50 ppm increase above the pre-industrial level was reached in the 1970, after more than 200 years, whereas the second 50 ppm was achieved in about 30 years.
- In the 10 years from 1995-2005, atmospheric CO2 increased by about 19 ppm. The highest average growth rate recorded for any decade since direct atmospheric CO2 measurment began in the 1950s.
- Fossil fuel burning has produced approximately three-quarters of the increase in CO2 from human activity over the past 20 years. Most of the rest is due to land-use change, in particular deforestation
- The global value of CH4 has risen from pre-industrial 715 ± 4 ppb (parts per billion) to 1774 ppb in 2005.
- The atmospheric concentration of CO2 and CH4 in 2005 exceeds by far natural range over the last 650 000 years.
Source: European Science Foundation
From the CIAO Database:
Hitting Reboot - Where next for climate after Copenhagen?
Climate Shame: Get back to the table Initial analysis of the Copenhagen climate talks
The EU and the global climate regime: Getting back in the game
It's One Climate Policy World Out There—Almost
Reducing poverty through low carbon development
Outside Sources: *
The Copenhagen Accord
http://www.denmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/C41B62AB-4688-4ACE-BB7B-F6D2C8AAEC20/0/copenhagen_accord.pdf
The Climate Change Performance Index 2010 (GermanWatch)
http://www.germanwatch.org/klima/ccpi2010.pdf
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change
http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics
Copenhagen Climate Council
http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/
Framework Convention on Climate Change (United Nations)
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
* Outside links are not maintained. For broken outside links, CIAO recommends the Way Back Machine.
