Earth may be 140 years away from reaching carbon levels not seen in 56 million years

[DemocracyMouse]

Source: Science Daily

A new study finds humans are pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a rate nine to 10 times higher than the greenhouse gas was emitted during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a global warming event that occurred roughly 56 million years ago.

The results suggest if carbon emissions continue to rise, the total amount of carbon dioxide injected into the atmosphere since humans started burning fossil fuels could equal the amount released during the PETM as soon as 2159.

"You and I won't be here in 2159, but that's only about four generations away," said Philip Gingerich, a paleoclimate researcher at the University of Michigan and author of the new study in the AGU journal Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology. "When you start to think about your children and your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren, you're about there."

Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190220112221.htm

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This, and the UN report giving us 12 years to do something, is why millions of younger Americans want a Green New Deal.

Hey Older Folks:

Remember that line in the Buffalo Springfield song? The one that goes "getting so much resistance from behind". Why are we hippies NOT listening to this new generation? Why do we protect the status quo so much?

[hlthe2b]

1. Some of the "older folks" are the ones TEACHING the new generation, not to mention lobbying on their

behalf. The resistance/protection of the status quo and the ultimate POWER is coming from the 1% HAVES--not the HAVE NOTS, regardless of age.

[Autumn]

2. This is what another country is doing for their children

when they skipped school to protest against global warming.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-teen-activist-idUSKCN1QA1RF?fbclid=IwAR0nxzAS07qASFcF5MH_lnIwviqVEBaYWtjyB34hddc6WU0lEkdIv8luLTM

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union should spend hundreds of billions of euros combating climate change during the next decade, its chief executive said on Thursday, responding to a Swedish teen who has inspired a global movement of children against global warming.

In a speech alongside 16-year-old Greta Thunberg in Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for suggesting climate change was “invented” and “ideological”.

“In the next financial period from 2021 to 2027, every fourth euro spent within the EU budget will go towards action to mitigate climate change,” Juncker said of his proposal for the EU budget, which is typically 1 percent of the bloc’s economic output, or 1 trillion euros ($1.13 trillion) over seven years.

[Magoo48]

3. Like ms Thunberg said,"The house is on fire."

All I see is our “leaders” arming themselves with squirt guns and water balloons as they strut and preen with pride over their efforts.

[DemocracyMouse]

4. Well said.... We MUST step up our environmentalism

[briv1016]

5. We'll be able to get there in less than 80.

[The_jackalope]

6. "We" consume Chinese goods

So the CO2 production has moved over there as their industry ramped up to meet the demand.

Taken together, the biggest culprits for CO2 production are China and India, taken together. Chindia's CO2 production has gone up by 168% since 2000. The production of entire rest of the world has gone up a paltry 13% in that time.

The USA is down 11% since 2000, and the EU is down 7%. But as long as the US and EU consume Chinese goods, they are simply exporting the CO2 problem.

[DemocracyMouse]

11. Well said. The US consumption of gas-guzzling SUVs, air travel, air conditioning, etc. accounts for

far more than our share of greenhouse gases.

Ad Pogo the cartoon possum said: "I've met the enemy and he is us."

Please make your next car a train 🚂....

[certainot]

7. talking about this in terms of 140 years is something the climate deniers want us to do

it might be relevant science but has nothing to do with the current survival situation

it has to happen ASAP and they're delaying it so they can continue to amortize their fossil infrastructure and create an emergency situation so they can make a case for expensive big tax payer funded centralized solutions like nukes and chemicals in the oceans etc

the most efficient activism americans can do is to get republicans out of the white house and congress ASAP

[Raine]

8. 140 yrs is optimistic

it's coming faster then that and even if it was 140 yrs those years in between are going to be hell.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. I'm personally concerned, because reincarnation may be real.

Not that I know, but what if? There's no escaping participation in the future. I don't want my future me to be pissed off at the present me.

My head hurts.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. We hippies were pushing for environmental protection way back then.

Go look up the date Earth Day was created.
and the date The Population Bomb was published.

and who sez we are not listening to the younger generation? Where do you think some of them got their ideas from?

Bear in mind that "Young Republicans for Nixon" produced kids back then who grew up to worship money more than what was good for the planet. THEY are not listening.

[NickB79]

12. My daughter is 8

My family is known for their longevity in our community. Every one of my grandparents and greatgrandparents lived into their late 80's and 90's. Hardy German farmers working hard, breathing fresh air, and growing and cooking most of their own food in the Midwest for generations. Cancer is virtually unknown in either my paternal or maternal line.

If my daughter has children in 20 years, and my grandchildren have kids when they are in their late 20's, my great-grandchildren would live to see this hothouse world.

It's not that far off when you think about it.