> ... so emissions are the first derivative of this graph Not exactly. There is a net sink of emissions every year into the land & ocean, so d(CO2)/dt = emissi

> ... so emissions are the first derivative of this graph Not exactly. There is a net sink of emissions every year into the land & ocean, so d(CO2)/dt = emissions minus the net sinks, roughly. See the graph on CO2 partitioning [0]. A lot of research goes into whether these sinks continue at their current rate of removal. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_carbon_cycle#Anthropogenic_sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_carbon_cycle#Anthr...