LiveGreen: The perils of carbon dioxide

In May 2013, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere briefly crossed 400 parts per million for the first time in human history. This year, the first 400 ppm reading came in March, and June 2014 marked the third month in a row with average CO2 levels above 400 ppm.

Ralph Keeling, who runs a carbon dioxide monitoring program for Scripps Institute of Oceanography, says it’s just a matter of time before the level stays over 400. The readings, taken in various places all over the globe, have been rising steadily since 1958. Keeling’s father began graphing the changes at the Mauna Loa Laboratory in Hawaii. The graph is now referred to as the Keeling Curve.

LIVEGREEN

by Anne Rivas

The carbon dioxide level of 400 ppm is significant because it contributes to heating the planet’s surface, including ocean temperatures, which in turn melt ice and raise ocean levels. But this is happening gradually, so why does this concern us?

Average temperatures in the U.S. have risen a half degree per decade since 1970, and while correlation does not equal causation, climate scientists say there is a strong relationship between CO2 levels and the temperature rise. Along with increased temperatures, we are seeing an increase in catastrophic natural disasters.

Regardless of cause, there is no place to live risk-free. We need to be smarter. Omaha is re-doing its sewer system so that flooding won’t result in sewage backing up into streets and homes. The city is dealing with current risks and doing what it can to prevent future catastrophe. It makes sense to take intensifying weather events into account and update city plans, infrastructure and home designs to deal with current weather conditions.

We need homes that protect us from flood, fire, and tornadoes. For instance, Pilger, Neb., is in a flood plain, meaning it is not a good place for basements. Ironically, people survived because they went into their basements during the tornadoes that destroyed their homes. How should they rebuild? With reinforced safe areas, like the ones we have in buildings on the UNMC campus. We need to explore new home designs and take natural events into account when rebuilding our cities. This is short-term survival.

For long-term survival, we need to reduce carbon emissions, use and promote cleaner energy, nurture urban green space, like Tree Cities and Tree Campuses, and get serious about reforestation. This is sustainability.