In climate change news, atmospheric CO2 surged in 2016

With growing awareness of the dangers of anthropogenic climate change and the efforts people are putting into curbing its effects, it’s tempting to think we may be putting a dent in it at least. But then along comes science with a sobering reality check:

Concentrations of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere surged to a record high in 2016, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Last year's increase was 50% higher than the average of the past 10 years.

Researchers say a combination of human activities and the El Niño weather phenomenon drove CO2 to a level not seen in 800,000 years.

Scientists say this risks making global temperature targets largely unattainable.

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Emissions from human sources have slowed down in the last couple of years according to research, but according to Dr Tarasova, it is the cumulative total in the atmosphere that really matters as CO2 stays aloft and active for centuries.

I don’t see that line changing course and going back down anytime soon, least of all with one of the most politically and economically powerful nations in the world currently under leadership that sees the environment as entirely expendable.