Even if we stopped pollution today, it’s too late
SIR DAVID KING AND SWARE SEMESI ‘23, OPINION CONTRIBUTORS - 09/21/23, “We’re past the point of no return on climate emissions — it’s time we turn to carbon removal,” THE HILL, accessed July 10, 2024, https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/4213981-were-past-the-point-of-no-return-on-climate-emissions-its-time-we-turn-to-carbon-removal/
While this has shielded humanity and terrestrial ecosystems, the effects in the ocean are alarming: unprecedented warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and a host of related changes that further undermine the stability of our climate. Decreasing emissions must remain an urgent priority of the global community, but the problem is this: Even if we stopped all emissions today, existing carbon pollution in the air will continue to warm the planet to devastating levels.