According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is now 387 ppm, the highest level for at least 650,000 years.
Meanwhile, the city of Toronto released figures showing that the August 19, 2005 storm has cost the city $44 million, in addition to $500 million of insurance claims made by various property owners. By comparison, the swimming pools that are proposed to be closed across the city will save perhaps $3-$4 million. Increasing frequency of severe storms of this kind will be one of the earliest impacts of climate change in Ontario.