Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 50% higher than levels during the pre-industrial era. In the 6,000 years preceding the industrial revolution levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere averaged consistently around 280 parts per million.
In May, carbon dioxide levels were recorded at the Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory at 421 parts per million. CO2 levels are similar to those experienced during the Pliocene Era, between 4.1 and 4.5 million years ago.
“The science is irrefutable: humans are altering our climate in ways that our economy and our infrastructure must adapt to…We can see the impacts of climate change around us every day. The relentless increase of carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa is a stark reminder that we need to take urgent, serious steps to become a more Climate Ready Nation.”, said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D.
The capitalist economic system prioritizes the maximization of profits for the private owners of the means of production above all other considerations. The costs of the externalities of the capitalist organization of production place no burden on the capitalist class who have no incentive to change the current organization as it serves their collective interests. The implementation of a planned, social production under the principles of Marxism-Leninism can organize production in a way that balances the societal production while also protecting the environment. Under capitalism, scientists and specialists simply study, observe and document the negative effects of capitalist production on the environment while the same societal forces that contribute to such a result stay in force.
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