> If we dig up all the carbon in the ground, burn all the gas, coal and oil then we wind up in a 4,000+ ppm CO2 world that the Earth hasn't seen since 40M years ago in the Eocene. In 200-300 years that would melt Antarctica
The bigger problem here is that at 4,000+ ppm CO2, a good chunk of people will simply suffocate. Have you ever tried to do perform work that requires high cognitive load in a poorly ventilated room?
Now multiply the effects of that x3, and realize that there's no escape from this, anywhere on the planet. You can't simply open a window and let in that fresh 400 ppm air anymore.
Evolution might start selecting for individuals that are successful without higher cognitive function, aka selecting for physically fit imbeciles that can function in a 4,000 ppm CO2 world.
That's a hypothetical scenario, of course. Western Civilization will be long gone before CO2 levels reach anywhere near 4k.
In the case CO2 density reach high levels, in an evolutionary way it may be "better" (more supply). So now I wonder, what traits could be developped it there was that much more C02 around.
The bigger problem here is that at 4,000+ ppm CO2, a good chunk of people will simply suffocate. Have you ever tried to do perform work that requires high cognitive load in a poorly ventilated room?
Now multiply the effects of that x3, and realize that there's no escape from this, anywhere on the planet. You can't simply open a window and let in that fresh 400 ppm air anymore.
Evolution might start selecting for individuals that are successful without higher cognitive function, aka selecting for physically fit imbeciles that can function in a 4,000 ppm CO2 world.
That's a hypothetical scenario, of course. Western Civilization will be long gone before CO2 levels reach anywhere near 4k.