1.2  Climate Change and CO2 concentration

For the past 400,000 years the Earth’s atmospheric CO2 concentration was between around: 170 ppm to 300 ppm.

It appears that Life on Earth flourishes in this range of 170 ppm to 300 ppm, and there is a generally optimal atmospheric CO2 concentration level of: 290 ppm; where average Sea Level is 0 metres.

In just the past 170 years, human’s use of Fossil Fuels has increased CO2 concentration to: 417 ppm.

• This is a 127 ppm increase from a generally optimal or ideal 290 ppm, and the CO2 concentration is expected to grow much higher.

• In general ‘systems engineering’ terms, this high CO2 concentration increase represents a huge input control ‘error’ in the Earth’s climate control system.

The Climate Change situation is complex, therefore based on ‘The Earth’s Atmospheric CO2 ppm concentration, Average Temperature, and Sea Level over 400,000 years’ ( see chart on the next page) we have applied WORLD AVERAGE BASELINE IDEAL MEASURES that are associated with ‘Hansen Equation 1’, where: 

• An average Sea Level of 0 meters is considered the ideal natural level; therefore, the corresponding average Atmospheric CO2 concentration of 290 ppm is taken as ideal, and a corresponding Average Earth Temperature of 15 degrees Celsius is taken as ideal. i.e. World Ideal = 290 ppm = 15 deg C = 0 metres.

Now, scientific research and the IPCC and its AR6 document have shown that a CO2 concentration at 417 ppm and the associated Climate Change is very dangerous…   But why is this?