Tracking Earth's Temperature

Business As Usual - How Hot Will It Get?

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The Earth's atmosphere now contains 385 ppm of carbon dioxide; the most it has contained for 55 million years. Our global average temperature it now 0.75^o above normal.

With business as usual (BAU) CO2 levels and temperatures are going to continue to rise. We must not allow the CO2 to reach 450 ppm. If we do, there will be no stopping run-away catastrophic climate change.

By 2010, 400 ppm, we can expect decreasing water availability and increasing drought in many areas of the world, increasing wildfire risk, increased flood and storm damage, and increasing burden from malnutrition, diarrheal, cardio-respiratory and infectious diseases.

By 2020s, 450 ppm, we can expect extinction of 20 to 30 percent of known species, most corals bleached, and increasing morbidity and mortality from heat waves, floods and droughts.

By 2050s, 600 ppm, widespread coral mortality, millions more people face flooding every year, billions of people homeless, and substantial burdens on health services

By 2070s, 850 ppm, global food production projected to decrease substantially, Extinctions of more than 40 percent of all species around the globe, destruction of ecosystems, and depletion of goods and services.

By 2100s, 1200 ppm, global economic losses of about 5% of GDP, run-away melting of Greenland and western Antarctic ice sheets, raising sea level 13-20 feet.

These projections are based on the IPCC fourth assessment, Workgroup III report, which has been criticized for being too conservative.

New information reveals ice melting at every increasing rates, droughts spreading, species migrating, and millions dying from hungry and lack of water. All this is happening right now. What will the future look life?