Our current warm period interglacial warming cycle began circa 1750. CO2 emissions 1850-1945 were small, <5Gt/yr., (1GT = 1 gigaton = 1 million metric tons) accelerating post 1945, they rose to 36.3Gt/yr in 2021. The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)1990 report, 33 years ago, branded CO2 with global warming guilt. Ever since programs, restrictions and warnings to cut CO2 emissions have been non-stop. The result of these efforts?

CO2 emissions have actually increased worldwide by 157%, 1990 to 2021(21.4 to 36.3 Gt/yr).  This despite 27 Intl. Confs., billions of dollars spent, untold “dedicated” jobs, thousands of programs, and countless articles, all devoted to cutting CO2 emissions. China’s CO2 emissions increased 547%-1990 to 2021. CO2 emissions reduction worldwide has been futile. United States CO2 emissions have actually decreased since 1990 but US efforts, although touted as “planet saving,” are negated by worldwide increases. Doesn’t sound like good news? Hang on, its coming.

Global temperatures sharply rose during the 1980s whileCO2 emissions were also still sharply rising (as they had since 1945). Aperceived correlationled to the hypothesis that CO2 emissions were causing the global warming. Even without proof, this was quickly accepted as truth. This rush to judgment gained “authenticity” via the IPCC’ssubjective math models.

A review of the empirical/historical data clearly refutes this hastily adopted hypothesis which the world has been captivated by and captive to for 33 years. The global temperature/CO2 relationship data show:

(1) There was global cooling over a 34-year period, 1945 -1979, whileCO2 emissions rose from 5 to 17.9Gt/yr. and atmospheric CO2 raised from 310 to 337ppm (parts per million).

(2) The “high”1976 -1998 global warming rate of 0.32oC/decade, with emissions reaching 23.4Gt/yr., thatfostered global warming concerns, was less than the 1929-1941 global warming rate of 0.45oC/decade,during which there were minor CO2 emissions and low atmospheric CO2,309 ppmvs 332-367ppm from 1978-1998.

(3) Since the 1976-1998 (0.32oC/decade warming), the global warming rate (1998-2021) decreased to (0.104oC/decade) despite an

added 700 billion tonnes emissions and atmospheric CO2 rising to 417ppm.   

The good news? The purge of CO2is as misguided and unnecessaryas it is ineffective. Planetary demise is not at risk. Facts show global warming is driven by factors other than CO2 as it has been for millennia and the global warming of the Current Warm Period will carry on till its natural turn around as previous interglacial warm periodshave.

Until the expected turn around takes place, actions to address global warming effects as necessary (e.g., sea level rise) should be taken and environmentally safe and economically sound green energy alternatives to reduce fossil fuel burning (coal, natural gas and petroleum) which emits the pollutants, NO2, CO, SO2 and particulates should be pursued.

Larry Von Thun, Lakewood