Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere soared to a record high in 2024, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This alarming increase is attributed to various factors, including human activities and an uptick in wildfires, which are contributing to a “vicious climate cycle.” The WMO’s latest bulletin highlights that greenhouse gases are “turbo-charging” the Earth’s climate, leading to more frequent and severe weather events.
According to the WMO, the growth rates of CO2 have tripled since the 1960s. The annual average increase surged from 0.8 parts per million (ppm) per year to 2.4 ppm per year during the decade from 2011 to 2020. From 2023 to 2024, the global average concentration of CO2 rose by an unprecedented 3.5 ppm, marking the largest single-year increase since the WMO began measurements in 1957.
Significant Factors Behind the Increase
The report identifies several key contributors to this record growth. Notably, large emissions from wildfires during the warmest year on record, combined with a strong El Niño, played vital roles in the escalation of CO2 levels. The WMO also noted that last year’s wildfires in California were exacerbated by strong Santa Ana winds, further intensifying the situation.
The data from WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch network reveals that the annual average level of CO2 was 377.1 ppm in 2004. By 2024, this figure had climbed to 423.9 ppm. The implications of this elevated CO2 concentration are dire, as it sets the planet on a trajectory for long-term temperature increases.
Broader Impact of Greenhouse Gases
In addition to CO2, the WMO report indicates that concentrations of other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, have also reached record levels due to human activities. The deputy secretary-general of the WMO, Ko Barrett, emphasized the severe consequences of these rising greenhouse gas levels. “The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbo-charging our climate and leading to more extreme weather,” Barrett stated.
The findings of the WMO underscore the urgent need for global action to mitigate these escalating emissions. With the planet facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change, the implications of these record-high levels of CO2 are both immediate and long-lasting.
As nations grapple with the reality of climate change, the data presented by the WMO serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for strategies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering sustainable practices worldwide.
