CO2 is the focus but limiting emissions is hard; capturing, using and storing offers opportunities; but critical under investment in innovation
It is hard to visualise the scientific unit of measurement that counts the number of units of one substance per one million units of another (ppm). People at education platform TED-Ed have tried a number of ways:
One key from 11,363 pianos
A granule of sugar from 273 cubes
One second in 11.5 days
One kernel from 1,250 ears of corn
Therefore, seeing the measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) by Scripps Institution of Oceanography reach 416.94 ppm on March 17 compared with 315 ppm 60 years ago can seem a little insignificant for most people.
After all, pre-industrialisation rates – about 250 years ago, were estimated at 250 ppm (though in ice ages it might have been as low at 160 ppm).
But as CO₂ is a so-called greenhouse gas, along with methane, the rise in concentration leads to warmer average temperatures and often more extreme…
