World Council for Health

Has the Great CO₂ Panic Frozen Over?

A new Nature paper reconstructs atmospheric CO₂ and CH₄ from Antarctic ice cores, showing both gases remained remarkably stable at about 250 ppm and 700 ppb respectively over the past 3 million years. This stability persisted through major glacial‑interglacial cycles, including the Pleistocene ice ages and warm interglacials. The authors argue that such constancy undermines the view of CO₂ as the primary climate thermostat and suggests limited long‑term feedback. The study reignites debate over the relative roles of orbital mechanics, solar variability, and ocean circulation in driving Earth’s climate.