Peter Gleick

Atmospheric CO2 has passed 430 parts per million.

The last time atmospheric CO2 was at 430 ppm was during the ancient Pliocene Era, three to five million years ago, and humans didn’t exist.

Apr 22 at 5:29amWeb
Show threadJac ArandaApr 22
@petergleick The sad thing is people who didn't, contribute much to this catastrophe will suffer most as the climate becomes more harsh.
Show threadRoadskater, Ph.D.Apr 22
@petergleick Sigh, I can remember when we used to call 330 ppm "current" and I got dunked at a dissertation presentation a few years later because that was "so 5 years ago".
Show thread⚒︎(((🇻🇳Das Classist🇱🇦)))☭Apr 22

@petergleick

I'd like to get down to my college freshman level of 341.57 ppm

Show threadJohn🥛Apr 22
@petergleick peace out peeps ....things will be better for the rest of Nature once we are gone.
Show threadadritheonlyApr 22
@johnglass @petergleick No doubt! Unfortunately the rest of nature will be gone then too. The Earth will survive but what will live on it?
Show threadGergovieApr 22

@petergleick

Jamais l'homme n'a connu un tel niveau.

Show threadxs4me2Apr 22

@petergleick

And that is where we are heading if we continue… self inflicted.

Show threadnoplasticshowerApr 22
@petergleick everything is fine #climatechange
Show threadaœ bärlinApr 22
@petergleick What is the amount of CO2 that harms people (mammals, air breathing creatures) directly. The brain needs "fresh air“ to work properly.
(Heat diminshes the ability to think clearly.)
Show threadImran Nazar ~ عمران نزرApr 22

@aoeBerlin @petergleick The British health and safety executive state:

CO2 levels consistently higher than 1500ppm in an occupied room indicate poor ventilation and you should take action to improve it. [https://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/using-co2-monitors.htm]

So there's a way to go before outside is actively stuffy.

Using CO2 monitors - Ventilation in the workplace

Carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors can help you identify poor ventilation so you can improve it.

Show threadDon JebantykApr 22
@aoeBerlin @petergleick True apes existed much longer, so we evolved to tolerate a wide range of atmospheric composition, our ancestors lived trough 1k ppm of CO2. We should be fine. In practice, humans tolerate order of magnitude higher levels.
Show threadPete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫Apr 22

@jebantyk @aoeBerlin @petergleick

Our ancestors survived every mass extinction in the geological record. But that's not a predictive observation, obviously.

Show threadDon JebantykApr 22
@petealexharris @aoeBerlin @petergleick only those who evolved to thrive in the environment produced offspring, so we acquired adaptations (like high mountains communities tolerating less oxygen, or others milk drinking).
That is just one of many angles: we can check scientific (and military) literature about cognitive abilities in operating in tight containers (submarines, capsules) and evidence is inconclusive—or in other words, there is no strong evidence showing 1kppm impairs cognition.
Show threadPete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫Apr 22

@jebantyk @aoeBerlin @petergleick

Yeah it's not going to be CO₂ poisoning or drowning from rising sea levels, or unsurvivable temperatures that get us, it's going to be starvation. It's always starvation, every time, when a climatic change fucks up a species or civilisation.

Show threadmkjApr 22

And let's not forget all the other species we cohabitate this planet with.

As for arguments based around evolution: sorry, but no. In geological history atmospheric composition changed slowly; this does indeed allow time for life to adapt (by various strategies). The current rate of change is totally unprecedented in the time that complex life has existed on Earth. If you believe otherwise jebantyk, please cite a reputable source and a specific period.

@petealexharris @aoeBerlin @petergleick

Show threadDon JebantykApr 22

@mkj why complecting discussion about acceptable CO2 range that we can test easily artificially: heck in our house we can have 2k ppm CO2 and make cognitive tests to check whether they affect us cognitively. CO2 is no different here from lead (levels independent of global warming), which naturally occurs in soil and plants, but is a neurotoxin to us, yet only life that adapted to those varying level survived.

Nowhere I said today’s CO2 levels change as fast as in the past. Why implying that?

Show threadmkjApr 22

@aoeBerlin https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-08/Carbon-Dioxide.pdf has an overview. According to that, up to about 1% CO2 is reasonably safe, and by the time you get to 4-5 % you are looking at short-term serious risk.

Except I haven't seen *anyone* make a serious claim that the problem is immediate harm, so for the purpose of atmospheric CO2 levels, that's a largely academic question.

@petergleick

Show threadDifferent DrummerApr 22
@petergleick That's okay; we won't soon.
Show threadAxxelApr 22
@petergleick we harmless in the fught in a world full of anti scientists
Show threadCEDunnApr 22
@petergleick
So, good news, historically, the earth could be hospitable to humans in as little as 2M years! /s
Show threadOhWeh 🤍 #RIPNatenom 💔Apr 22

@petergleick

"...three to five million years ago, and humans didn’t exist."

No worries!

Another three to five hundred years, and humans did exist.

Show threadPH7831Apr 22
@petergleick how did they manage to get the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere down without AI to tell them what to produce ?