Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere just hit a ‘depressing’ new record
Posted by Foreign_Addition2844@reddit | collapse | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Posted by Foreign_Addition2844@reddit | collapse | View on Reddit | 25 comments
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
I know that co2 in the atmosphere dont start to effect humans till around 1000ppm, but i swear the last year i feel like im going into a coma most of the time. maybe im super sensitive to co2
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
Where did you get that number? CO2 concentrations affect humans at much lower concentrations than you’re suggesting. Much much lower.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
We start to feel fuzzy and slow in thinking as co2 rises we die after a certain level of co2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-026-01918-5
I think what you are thinking of is concentrated co2 like what happened to hikers or people trapped in caves. Yes that is deadly at lower concentrations because its a small area. but atmospheric co2 takes a bit more to kill us , but it does make us gibbering slow idiots long before then
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
Okay yes, absolutely. But if external (outdoor) air co2 is higher that means your indoor quality air will rise at the same rate. Meaning, indoor air quality is already at a questionable level. Any increase in atmospheric co2 will inevitably make the environments we occupy indoors climb to more dangerous levels. I appreciate your cave example because that’s exactly what all slightly inclosed spaces are becoming as the concentration rises.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Yes indoor concentrations will prob be higher by a good amount. but either way if you read the whole thing thy are sounding the alarm bells and saying we have to stop the rise now! Because its going to kill us in 50 years, but i personally think it will ramp up faster.
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
That’s a unique and honestly positive take. If we could all die peacefully in our sleep that’d be the best scenario. We should be so lucky. I fear you are not taking into account the humans that will fight to live in the process of dying. There are sooooo many factors that contribute to the end as we know it.
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
Collapse is happening much faster than you and I think. Please don’t think my comments meant I believe 2050, or even 2040. We’re shooting for 2030’s at the latest in my opinion.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Well i been saying 2C by 2030 maybe sooner, and then 4 C is right behind it. the world is going to die off the only surprise i had recently was finding out that very few species will survive the poison atmosphere. i had hope the animal and other fauna would survive us , but sadly it looks like we are going scorched earth on everything.
CorvidCorbeau@reddit
That's a pretty strong conclusion to draw. The study mentioned several exposure levels to only a few species, and even those results are a bit inconsistent. Pretty much the whole point of this study was to say:
"Hey, there's a correlation here, it's alarming and we don't have proper data on lifetime exposure"
For plant species, optimal CO2 levels sit around 800-1200ppm. For insects, the range is immense, unsurprisingly as there are a few million species of them. For mammals, there's also considerable variation. Kinda sucks for us, because we specifically evolved in a very low CO2 world, so our bodies aren't equipped to handle higher levels.
You know what is contributing to that scorched earth future? Synthethic chemicals. Pollution that accidentally or deliberately kills insects, plants, fungi, birds and over time poisons other animals too.
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
It’s awful but the thing you have to remember is animal and plant fauna is highly more susceptible to atmospheric and environmental change than us humans are. We have lots of cards in our pocket to survive as a species. The very very fragile biome we are in does not have the adaptive capacity humans have. Aka most everything around us will die and change more quickly than you expect.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Now im really sad.
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention starting this conversation.
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
I’d say don’t be sad but that’s really not an option now. Neither is “fighting for options to change” either though. My (unsolicited) advice is find what matters to you and focus on it. Keep connected with your people because that’s what’s important and where the love is now.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
from the article about the threat to all living creatures as the co2 grows
The extra CO2 being inhaled isn’t expelled via increased ventilation, as ventilation rate is controlled by pH which has likely remained stable due to acid-base regulation. CO2 storage in the body then becomes a major issue presenting a risk to population health and an existential threat for many species especially given that the rise in atmospheric CO2 may be a phenomenon that has significant momentum. Realistically, to mitigate this approaching threat, the alarm needs to be raised immediately. Unfortunately, currently there is little awareness or inclination for action on this issue.
Puzzled-Elevator-925@reddit
Yes, that means your body will store more and more until it can’t anymore and then start showing deficits.
fatherintime@reddit
Been to a doctor lately? Just asking friend.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Going on the 19th actually, because its scary
fatherintime@reddit
I am glad you are going and I hope you get some answers! Either the super easy kind to change or the kind we like less but can act on. Definitely keep that appointment.
ConfusedMaverick@reddit
Like almost every article that harbinges our doom, this one ends on a positive note... "Still, there are reasons to be optimistic" says the last sentence
Yeah, right
shatners_bassoon123@reddit
Turns out that green energy and EV's haven't done a damn thing to lower the only measurement that actually matters. I'm shocked !
NyriasNeo@reddit
It is only depressing if you have false hope. You can always accept and make peace. "Drill baby drill" won. It is not like the co2 levels are going to come down anytime soon, if ever.
StatementBot@reddit
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Foreign_Addition2844:
SS: Atmospheric CO2 Levels have officially surpassed 430 ppm marking a new record recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. On May 1 2026 daily averages reached a staggering 433.95 parts ppm, continuing a relentless upward trend that has accelerated significantly over the last several years.
Current levels are more than 50% higher than pre-industrial concentrations of approximately 280 ppm. Sustained atmospheric CO2 levels above 430 ppm represent a critical threshold where the impacts of climate change shift from manageable to increasingly volatile and irreversible.
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is currently increasing by approximately 2.4 to 2.6 ppm every year. This is compared to 0.8ppm in the 1960s.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/1t4zmaw/carbon_dioxide_levels_in_the_atmosphere_just_hit/ok6c2os/
bistrovogna@reddit
"I sure do hope this has nothing to do with all the oil fields and refineries getting bombed." <- It is better if you adopt a longer term, more systemic viewpoint. We will "improve" the CO2 by at least 2ppm, maybe we can even average 5ppm if we work hard, per year for as long as you live. Regardless of bombing of a couple refineries.
Foreign_Addition2844@reddit (OP)
Yea. I took that out right after I wrote it ;D
Foreign_Addition2844@reddit (OP)
SS: Atmospheric carbon dioxide Levels have officially surpassed 430 parts per million marking a new record recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. On May 1 2026 daily averages reached a staggering 433.95 parts per million, continuing a relentless upward trend that has accelerated significantly over the last several years. Current levels are more than 50% higher than pre-industrial concentrations of approximately 280 ppm. I sure do hope this has nothing to do with all the oil fields and refineries getting bombed.