Carbon Dioxide Levels Already In Danger Zone: Study

According to the study, coal is the largest source of atmospheric CO2 and the one that would be most practical to eliminate.

A new study by a team of scientists from three countries reveals that the world’s atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) must be reduced below its current level to avoid climate disasters.

Writing in Open Atmospheric Science Journal, the authors, including two scientists from Yale and others from the U.K. and France, say that earlier predictions pointing to a CO2 danger level of 450 parts per million (ppm) is far higher than the level that will bring about catastrophic climate change.

The current CO2 concentration is 385 ppm and the optimum level would be less than 350 ppm, according to the team.

They say they base their conclusion on improved data about the Earth's climate history and ongoing observations of change, especially in the polar regions.

The authors suggest that reforestation and improved agricultural practices that retain soil carbon could lower atmospheric CO2 by as much as 50 ppm.

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