Bad news for environment lovers, levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have grown 35 per cent faster than expected since 1990 due to inefficiency in fossil fuel use and the weakening of natural carbon sinks.
Even worse, there has also been a dip in the ability of land and oceans to absorb carbon dioxide, with the decline in efficiency of these natural sinks accounting for increases 18 percent above anticipated levels since 2000.
Being a science student myself, I have no doubt in my mind that a decrease in fossil fuel efficiency is the main reason behind increase in the level of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. What’s more, there is a slow change from oil and gas to coal, which is more carbon dioxide intensive.
Point to be noted here is that, as developing countries grow so does their use of energy and coal, which is not only easier in terms of access but also economical as well.
The dip in global sink efficiency clearly pinpoints the fact that stabilization of atmospheric carbon dioxide is even tougher to achieve than previously thought by some scientists.
