Why is it 350?
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To see the origins of ‘350’ ppm see the following paper:
- Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?- December 2008, James Hansen et al, Goddard Institute for Space Studies
and a quote:
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide is already 385 parts per million (ppm) [as of Dec 2008] and it is increasing by about 2 ppm each year as a result of the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), with a smaller contribution from burning of forests. The authors use evidence of how the Earth responded to past changes of CO2 and on-going climate changes to show that atmospheric CO2 has already entered the dangerous zone.
- The authors suggest that global policies should have an initial target for atmospheric CO2 of 350 ppm. They note that the optimum CO2 level for maintaining a planet similar to that on which civilization developed is likely to be less than 350 ppm, but a 350 ppm target already reveals that dramatic policy changes are needed urgently. By the time such fundamental changes are achieved, knowledge will exist to help fine-tune the target CO2.
As of August 2019 we were at 415ppm.