Earth Breaks New Records for Greenhouse Gases in Atmosphere as Climate Crisis Intensifies

Three of the most significant greenhouse gases contributing to global heating — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — reached new record highs again last year, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Global CO2 levels are now over 50% higher than they were before mass industrialization, due to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and livestock agriculture. Meanwhile, climate scientists continue to raise alarm over the catastrophic impacts of rising temperatures in Antarctica after researchers in 2022 recorded the largest hike in temperature ever measured in the coldest region on Earth. "All of these records that are being broken should be absolutely no surprise to the public," says NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus, speaking with _Democracy Now!_ in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the agency. "The cause is the fossil fuel industry. The only way out of this heat nightmare is to end the fossil fuel industry." Kalmus also discusses Monday's solar eclipse across much of North America, saying the celestial event should cause introspection about humanity's place in the universe and lead to better stewardship of the planet. "We live on a very fragile and beautiful rock in space, the only place we know in the cosmos to support life," he says.

[ioreodream]

Amy got so swept up in the eclipse mania that the poor scientist didn't have a decent shot at talking about the actual topic at hand. Shes so great and professional in every other situation so I give it a pass and the scientist did do a good job with the time he had. Keep raising the issue!

[TrisRamos]

I hate so much when guests get cut off.

[ivarronnback]

This was not a good interview Amy. Take him in one more time and give him space to explain his views more thoroughly. Kindly.

[ntucson]

Don't look up! This interview represents why the media is failing

[dexlab]

I feel so bad for this scientist trying to talk about climate change while Amy puts on the glasses </3

Him ending on "a lot more of us should be getting arrested" before the show cut was fantastic though. Bless this man.

[actthree]

Kudos for naming names in the fossil fuel industry. In order for accountability to be more than a slim chance, naming names is a ke step.

[justjustgord]

incredible interview .. his frustration is palpable - our rage is justified.

[chelseashurmantine]

Bro can we please talk about climate change and recognize that things are so locked in. And they’re trying to expand right now

[benbrown]

Amy... sorry, but I would rather have heard Peter talk more about the seriousness of climate change, the CEO's with the most power on the planet energizing disinformation and the society shaping forces of marketing and who gets access to the media.

[singingway]

I'm glad NASA doesn't insist on muzzling their employees.

[singingway]

Amy, a climate suitable for human life and civilization overarches and underlies ALL other issues and everything else we care about. It deserved more time.

[kiltedcripple]

This was borderline difficult to watch. I usually appreciate Amy's interviews, but she went on with inane banalities like eclipse glasses for pets and you could tell he has a message... which she has to cut short.

I'm not given to conspiratorial thinking, but it feels kind of gross to have his last desperate words about mass media distracting from and disinforming on the impending climate doom get cut off due to lack of time on an independent news outlet. It felt calculated. I'm a firm believer in never attributing to malice that which can easily be explained by ignorance, but damn man. She would know better than that. She needs to get that guy back on and give him a longer form interview that he can lead the conversation.

[piku]

A few oligarchs shouldn’t own and control the means of production, distribution and exchange. Workers make America run, workers should run America.🏴🇺🇸

[thestevenjaywaymusic]

He is, of course, totally correct! This system has to change, or we won’t survive! And we’ll take out billions of other lives too. Just to line the greedy, selfish, pockets of a few individuals. Total madness!

[NickDonnetelli]

What about pets looking at the Sun during a solar eclipse? That's the stupidest question I've ever heard. A cat or a dog would never purposely look at the Sun and they have no idea what a solar eclipse is. People's attention should be on climate change, especially with such elevated ocean temperatures influencing air temperatures in 2023/2024.

[karlad]

Not to mention all the fuel being burnt by the Military Industrial Complex 😢

[TheDoomWizard]

Nah, the problem is overshoot. Too many people consuming too many resources. Technology cannot solve our crisis which got us into this mess in the first place.

[votemonty]

Rich people would rather die rich than live poor.

[JLeeRiddell]

Please bring him back on to continue the conversation, without the interruptions.

[grzegorzgreg]

No time and money for environmental issues! Wars are expensive!!!
🌍SAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET!🌏