Public transport boss, Councillor Gary Clarke is urging more people to travel by public transport as new figures show that carbon dioxide levels are at an all time high.

Scientists claim that the current levels of the greenhouse gas are at their highest for 30 million years and are close to causing irreversible damage to our atmosphere.

In the West Midlands, park and ride schemes run by Centro-PTA, already prevent 140 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere every week by taking 2.5 million journeys off the region’s roads.

“Current carbon dioxide levels are very worrying and action needs to be taken before the problem gets any worse. It is important that every one in the West Midlands does their bit in helping to cut emissions,” says Cllr Clarke, chairman of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, which sets policy for Centro.

“The park and ride scheme is already proving that public transport can be the way forward to a greener and cleaner world.

Carbon dioxide levels are now at a level of 381 parts per million (ppm), up 70ppm in the last 50 years and only 19ppm lower than the critical level.

The Government’s chief scientific advisor, Prof Sir David King discussed the findings at a meeting earlier this week. He said: “That’s higher than we’ve been for over one million years, possibly 30 million years. Mankind is changing the climate.”

“70 million commuter trips are made in the region every year and if more of these were made by sustainable transport we could significantly contribute to lowering the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in Britain and decrease their devastating impact on the environment,” Cllr Clarke concludes.