For The Record

CO2 Records

Highest-Ever Mauna Loa* CO2 Levels in recorded human history
(and millions of years before that) 
 AveragesNOAA MLO Scripps MLO 
Daily
CO2
425.01 ppm Apr 28 2023424.22 ppm** Apr 26 2023

Marking the latest CO2 records is not an act of celebration, but of bearing witness.  CO2 Records

The achievements are a sobering reminder of the chemical changes that we humans are collectively making to the atmosphere–changes with disruptive impacts that affect every living being in the biosphere.  When a new record is reached, it is is marked here with an invitation for people to take notice, reflect on the transformation that is going in the wrong direction, and resolve to reverse these trends.

Scientists, climate experts, and governments officials agree that 350 ppm is the “safe” level of carbon dioxide. (hence the climate change activists group name 350.org)


Temperatures soared 10°C to 16°C above average in the Northwest Territories and the northern Prairies provinces.

May 15, 2023 Environment and Climate Change Canada – Weather 

Western and northern Canada witnessed record-breaking temperatures over the weekend, as dozens of records were shattered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Temperatures soared 10°C to 16°C above average in the Northwest Territories and the northern Prairies provinces. Southern British Columbia and Alberta also experienced a heatwave, with temperatures ranging from 6°C to 10°C above normal for this time of year.

List of some of the temperature records broken on May 14

ProvinceLocationNew record (°C)Old record (°C)Year old record was set
BCBella Bella30.726.02016
Comox31.925.61949
Sechelt30.526.71973
Squamish35.829.22018
Vancouver31.727.62018
Victoria30.727.81912
ABHendrickson Creek26.024.11997
Jasper29.327.81939
Red Earth Creek31.226.62018
Slave Lake29.627.21934
SKCollins Bay26.922.02003
Southend Reindeer29.024.12003
MBFlin Flon27.527.01977
Thompson28.927.81977
YKOld Crow17.116.62016
NTDetah22.919.92016
Inuvik19.014.31995
Paulatuk13.910.41995
Yellowknife22.919.92016
NUArviat10.43.82017

The strong high-pressure system causing this unusually hot weather should last until today before gradually decreasing in size and strength. These abnormally high temperatures closely follow another spell from April 29 to May 5. In fact, some places have not seen much of a break in above-normal temperatures since the end of April. We should expect the higher-than-usual temperatures to continue in these regions for the next few weeks.

These hot and dry conditions have further fuelled the hundreds of wildfires already burning in western Canada. The resulting smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility, prompting air quality statements in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Last week, the wildfire smoke spread across the entire country, reaching as far as the Atlantic Ocean.


Spain breaks record temperature for April – BBC News

Umbrellas to ward off the heat in Seville this week

April 28, 2023 – BBC News

Spain recorded its hottest ever temperature for April on Thursday, hitting 38.8C according to the country’s meteorological service.

The record figure was reached in Cordoba airport in southern Spain just after 15:00 local time (14:00 BST). For days a blistering heatwave has hit the country with temperatures 10-15C warmer than expected for April. It’s been driven by a mass of very hot air from Africa, coupled with a slow moving weather system.