Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere experienced a significant surge last year, reaching unprecedented heights not observed in human history. This surge has greatly intensified the Earth’s climate, resulting in more severe weather patterns, as highlighted by the United Nations weather agency on Wednesday.
The World Meteorological Organization’s latest report on greenhouse gases, released prior to the UN’s annual climate conference, revealed that the growth rates of CO2 have tripled since the 1960s, reaching levels unseen for at least 800,000 years. Emissions from the combustion of coal, oil, and gas, in addition to increased wildfire activity, have contributed to a detrimental climate cycle. Despite ongoing emissions of heat-trapping gases, the planet’s natural carbon absorption capacity in oceans and forests is diminishing.
According to the Geneva-based agency, the global average concentration of carbon dioxide saw the largest annual increase in 2024 compared to any year since measurements commenced in 1957. The rate of CO2 growth has accelerated, from an average annual increase of 2.4 parts per million per year between 2011 and 2020, to 3.5 parts per million from 2023 to 2024.
WMO’s deputy secretary-general, Ko Barrett, emphasized that the heat retained by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is intensifying the climate, leading to more extreme weather events. He stressed the necessity of reducing emissions for the sake of both climate stability and economic security.
Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, expressed deep concern over the alarming data, noting a worrying acceleration in atmospheric CO2 levels despite a relatively stable year for fossil fuel emissions. He warned that the current trend signals a dangerous trajectory driven by forest fires, warming oceans, and soaring global temperatures, pointing towards a looming climate crisis.
WMO urged policymakers to take decisive action to curb emissions, even as some governments advocate for increased utilization of coal, oil, and gas. While some entities are actively combating climate change, Hare criticized the inadequacy of most countries’ climate commitments in addressing the severity of the crisis.
The rise in CO2 levels in 2024 is pushing the planet towards further temperature increases in the long term, with concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide, other greenhouse gases stemming from human activities, also reaching record highs. This report raises concerns about achieving the temperature increase goal set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
United Nations climate chief, Simon Stiell, warned that the Earth is now on track for a 3-degree Celsius temperature rise. Recent data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that carbon dioxide levels are still escalating at a rapid pace, although slightly lower than the surge observed from 2023 to 2024.
Overall, the findings underscore the pressing need for immediate and substantial action to address the escalating climate crisis.
