Is it getting hot in here? Greenhouse gas levels hit historic highs

Atmospheric temperatures have climbed much faster than scientists have expected and the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a record high last years according to new research published by the U.N.'s agency on meteorology.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - This new data, released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) showed that between 2012 and 2013 carbon dioxide levels rose more than at any other year since 1984. The study indicated that this could be due to a decline in the Earth's ability to absorb CO2 emissions that have built up in the atmosphere.

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"It may be due to the reduced uptake of CO2 by the biosphere," said WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud. "If that is confirmed, it is of significant concern."

Jarraud said that more research would be required to confirm this theory.

"We know without any doubt that our climate is changing and our weather is becoming more extreme due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels," he said.

In 2013 the concentration of all major greenhouse gases passed all previous levels. The atmosphere's CO2 level was more than 1.5 times it pre-industrial level, and methane levels were twice as high as earlier.

That report urged scientists to again call for urgent attention to climate change ahead of a climate summit at the U.N. General Assembly this month.

"We have the knowledge and we have the tools for action to try to keep temperature increases within two degrees Celsius (3.6 F) to give our planet a chance and to give our children and grandchildren a future. Pleading ignorance can no longer be an excuse for not acting," Jarraud said.

Even if human-made carbon emissions fall by 80% by 2050, the warming effect of greenhouse gases will have barely receded by 2100. The longer fossil fuel use continues the harder it will be to reverse the warming effect, the WMO said.

"Past, present and future CO2 emissions will have a cumulative impact on both global warming and ocean acidification. The laws of physics are non-negotiable," Jarraud said. "We are running out of time."

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