{"id":4179,"date":"2009-02-13T12:38:10","date_gmt":"2009-02-13T18:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4179"},"modified":"2009-02-13T12:38:10","modified_gmt":"2009-02-13T18:38:10","slug":"environmental-defense-fund-global-warming-by-the-numbers-13-scary-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/environmental-defense-fund-global-warming-by-the-numbers-13-scary-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Defense Fund: Global Warming by the Numbers – 13 Scary Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"credit<\/a>Friday the 13th just got a little scarier. Here are 13 facts about the realities of global warming.<\/h3>\n

The numbers speak for themselves \u2014 we must make 2009 the showdown year for global warming action. There is no time to lose.<\/p>\n

35%<\/h3>\n

Increase in the global carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1992.<\/p>\n

[social_buttons]388.57 ppm<\/h3>\n

Average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in May 2008, a record high.<\/p>\n

541 \u2013 970 ppm<\/h3>\n

The projected concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 2100 under a business as usual scenario where we don’t dramatically reduce global warming emissions.<\/p>\n

260 \u2013 280 ppm<\/h3>\n

Average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere before industrial emissions.
\n<\/p>\n

50 \u2013 200 years<\/h3>\n

Length of time carbon dioxide stays in the earth’s atmosphere before it is absorbed into carbon sinks.<\/p>\n

1000 years<\/h3>\n

Length of time changes in the earth’s surface temperature, rainfall, and sea level will remain even after carbon dioxide emissions are completely stopped.<\/p>\n

34%<\/h3>\n

Percentage that 2008’s Arctic seasonal sea ice melt outpaced normal levels.<\/p>\n

70%<\/h3>\n

Increase in the rate of Greenland’s ice melt over the last five years.<\/p>\n

1.7 days<\/h3>\n

Number of days earlier seasons are coming than 50 years ago.<\/p>\n

1.5 million<\/h3>\n

Number of acres of forests in Colorado destroyed by the pine beetle, which is better able to survive warmer winters and is wrecking havoc in America’s western forests.<\/p>\n

$427 million<\/h3>\n

Amount spent by the oil and coal industries in the first six months of 2008 in political contributions, lobbying expenditures and advertising to oppose climate action.<\/p>\n

0<\/h3>\n

Number of global warming bills passed by the Senate.<\/p>\n

0<\/h3>\n

Number of global warming bills passed by the House.<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n