| Summary: | This article is about humanity’s three great carbon crises: global warming, climate change and ocean acidification. It identifies a concrete, directional target for atmospheric CO2 that can end the carbon crises, along with concrete carbon emissions targets for getting us there. These targets are presented in the context of the limited time for reaching the targets. Readers are encouraged to use the links that are embedded in this article. Earth is becoming a tougher place to thrive and survive. The planet’s self-regulating systems are being altered. With a less stable environment, Earth is losing many living species and its ability to supply the world economy with basic goods and services. The main driver behind these changes is carbon emissions. Mostly they are produced as humans burn fossil fuel for energy. Carbon emissions have been high enough to boost the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere to present day levels of roughly 390 parts per million. This is about 30 % higher than atmospheric CO2 levels for at least 800,000 years before the industrial revolution. Elevated levels of heat-trapping CO2 in the atmosphere has many impacts on the planet. Rising heat energy affects Earth’s natural climate systems. Temperature recordings are increasing across lands and oceans. Ice sheets are shrinking in the arctic and in the mountains. Droughts, downpours and storms are more frequent and severe. Fresh water is getting scarce. Sea levels are rising and bringing more floods to low-lying nations, cities, villages and crop fields.
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