Humanity is ignoring major planetary vital signs as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise to record highs and Earth experiences record heat for a 12th consecutive month, international climate officials warned this week. "The truth is that global emissions need to fall by 9 % every year until 2030 to keep the 1.5 degree limit alive, but they are going in the wrong direction," he told a crowd at the American Museum of Natural History. "We are playing Russian roulette with our planet and need an exit ramp from the freeway to climate hell." (Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, more at lexology.com)