Back in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was president and when I graduated from high school, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our outdoor air was about 340 parts per million (ppm). According to the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory in Mauna Loa, Hawaii, in February the reading was 428 ppm. For breathing, 428 falls within the normal range—from 400 ppm to 1,000 ppm for typical outdoor air and well-ventilated indoor spaces. From 1,000 to 1,500 ppm, the air is considered stale and can cause sluggishness, drowsiness and reduced decision making. When reaching 5,000 ppm, the air is unsafe to breathe and at 40,000 ppm we would all be unconscious.
While it is extremely unlikely that CO2 levels alone would ever get to extinction levels, it is the ripple effects of rising CO2 levels that are the problem—global warming specifically. Earth’s warming is directly proportional to the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Six thousand years ago, atmospheric CO2 levels averaged around 280 ppm. Our current level has not been seen on Earth for millions of years.
For every 10 ppm increase in CO2 concentration, the mean global temperature rises by roughly 0.1 Celsius. Since 1980 there has been an increase in temperature of .88 degrees Celsius. That is 1.584 degrees Fahrenheit—noticeable by the planet with melting ice, rising temperatures, and the acidification of oceans. While the global 2026 average is slightly below absolute records, the continental U.S. experienced its warmest March on record earlier this year—50.85 degrees F. That is more than 9 degrees F warmer than the 20th-century average.
Ice Melting & Sea Level Rise
Combined, Greenland and Antarctica are losing over 400 billion tons of ice annually, while mountain glaciers are shedding another 270+ billion tons per year. This rapid melting directly drives global sea-level rise—about 4 millimeters per year.
Dissolved CO2 reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid, which releases hydrogen ions. Since the industrial era, surface ocean water has become roughly 30 percent more acidic, with pH levels dropping from 8.2 to about 8.1. Higher acidity reduces the availability of carbonate ions, which are the essential building blocks for calcium carbonate. This makes it difficult for calcifying organisms—such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, shallow and deep-water corals, and calcareous plankton—to build and maintain their shells and skeletons.
I am just scratching the surface here of planetary impacts from rising CO2.
What can your business do to help stem the rise in CO2? A quick Google search produced the following:
The hotel industry can drastically reduce its carbon footprint by upgrading to smart HVAC systems, switching to renewable energy sources, and minimizing food and supply chain waste. Since 60 percent of a hotel’s carbon footprint typically stems from energy use, transitioning to efficient tech and green energy requires rapid implementation.
Hotels can directly target their carbon emissions by taking these highly actionable steps:
- Optimize Energy Efficiency: Retrofit buildings with double-glazed windows, shift to LED lighting, and install AI-driven building management systems that automatically adjust heating and cooling based on room occupancy.
- Transition to Renewables: Utilize rooftop solar panels, heat pumps, and green energy power purchasing agreements to eliminate reliance on fossil fuels.
- Eliminate Food and Operational Waste: Implement AI technology to track and optimize food ordering, compost waste, and utilize ozone laundry systems that eliminate hot water use.
- Engage Guests and Track Progress: Educate guests on sustainability, utilize carbon labeling on menus, and use benchmarking frameworks like the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative to track ongoing reductions.
Continue to share your energy conservation ideas with me. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
