UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations released new data on Monday indicating that greenhouse gas levels have reached a record high, reinforcing the urgent need for action from major polluters to combat climate change, said the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
This call to action comes as global leaders prepare for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku next month, amid ongoing warnings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the severe human consequences of ignoring this existential crisis.
WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett emphasized that carbon dioxide (CO2)—one of the three primary greenhouse gases, alongside methane and nitrous oxide—is now accumulating in the atmosphere at unprecedented rates. She pointed out that the long lifespan of CO2 means we are committed to rising temperatures for many years ahead.
The WMO’s 2024 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin serves as a stark reminder of the need to curb rising CO2 levels. In 2004, CO2 concentration was 377.1 parts per million (ppm), while in 2023, it has soared to 420 ppm, representing an increase of 42.9 ppm, or 11.4 percent over two decades. Barrett stressed that these figures are not just statistics; every increment in CO2 and every fraction of a degree of temperature rise has significant implications for glacier retreat, sea-level rise, ocean heat and acidification, as well as the impact on human populations and biodiversity.
The WMO noted that events such as forest fires and the El Niño phenomenon have contributed to a surge in greenhouse gas concentrations. Currently, nearly half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere, with just over a quarter absorbed by oceans and nearly 30 percent retained on land. Oksana Tarasova, a senior scientific officer at WMO, described last year’s Canadian wildfires as particularly devastating in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s CO2 levels are unprecedented in human history, last matching levels over three million years ago, when global temperatures were three to four degrees higher and sea levels were 10 to 20 meters higher.
The WMO report highlighted that from 1990 to 2023, radiative forcing—the warming effect from greenhouse gases—increased by 51.5 percent, with CO2 responsible for over 80 percent of this rise. The agency reiterated that as long as emissions continue, greenhouse gases will keep accumulating, leading to further global temperature increases. Due to CO2’s long atmospheric lifespan, the temperature rise already observed will persist for decades, even if emissions are quickly reduced to net zero.
When asked about the potential for tangible commitments at the upcoming UN climate conference, Barrett noted that while politicians do reference scientific climate findings in their statements, it remains to be seen how these words will translate into action at COP29. She stressed the importance of national efforts to transition to a lower fossil fuel economy to protect future generations.
“Even with a lag in temperature response, we must not be deterred from taking action,” Barrett stated. “A transformation toward a downward trend in temperatures is possible; it all depends on how quickly we can reduce emissions.”
