CO2 concentration in the atmosphere reaches record level, says UN agency

From 2023 to 2024, the global average CO2 concentration increased by 3.5 ppm, the largest increase since modern measurements began in 1957.

“The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbocharging our climate and leading to more extreme weather events. Reducing emissions is therefore essential not only for our climate, but also for our economic security and community well-being,” said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett.

The survey indicated that concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide also reached record levels.

The entity admits that the data puts pressure on governments that, in November, will be in Brazil for COP 30.

“Maintaining and expanding greenhouse gas monitoring is critical to supporting these efforts,” said Oksana Tarasova, coordinator of the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, one of the WMO’s flagship scientific reports and now in its 21st edition.

According to the survey, around half of the total CO2 emitted each year remains in the atmosphere. The rest is absorbed by terrestrial ecosystems and oceans. “However, this storage is not permanent. As global temperatures increase, the oceans absorb less CO2 due to decreased solubility at higher temperatures, while land sinks are impacted in a number of ways, including the potential for more persistent droughts,” he explains.