Article content continued

This is the first time in human history our planet's atmosphere has had more than 415ppm CO2.



Not just in recorded history, not just since the invention of agriculture 10,000 years ago. Since before modern humans existed millions of years ago.



We don't know a planet like this. https://t.co/azVukskDWr — Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) May 12, 2019

The macabre rise in carbon concentration levels isn’t entirely surprising. Carbon dioxide levels were recorded to have soared past the 400 ppm mark in 2016, reaching 410 ppm in 2017. Scientists at the beginning of 2019 predicted that it was only a matter of time before it crossed the 415 ppm precedent.

According to Tech Wire, the last time the planet came close to matching the climate of today was during the Pliocene Epoch, some three million years ago. Global temperatures were estimated at 2-3 degrees C warmer than today while carbon dioxide levels ranged between 310 to 400 ppm.

During this time, the Arctic was covered in trees instead of ice and summer temperatures in the far north were believed to have topped at 15C. Sea levels were also up by around 20 metres.

The dire news is simply one in a number of facts and recordings, marking an ominous turn in the fate of the planet’s flora and fauna. Last week, a published report warned that nearly one million species were at risk of extinction thanks to the carbon emissions released as a result of human economy activity.

“We keep burning fossil fuels,” Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps CO2, told Science Alert. “Carbon dioxide keeps building up in the air. It’s essentially as simple as that.”