Cutting emissions isn't enough, we need to start removing carbon from the atmosphere

Apr 21, 2017

A chimney in an industrial area of Sydney emits vapour June 22, 2009. Australia's government, facing Senate defeat of key emission trading laws, vowed on Friday to bring its climate-fighting regime to the upper house a second time, opening the door for a possible snap election. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA ENERGY POLITICS ENVIRONMENT IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR24WOS

Humans have emitted 1,540 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide gas since the industrial revolution. Image: REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

Eelco Rohling

Professor of Ocean and Climate Change, Australian National University

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