Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere surged to record highs in 2024, with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warning of accelerated global warming. The greenhouse gas reached 423 parts per million (ppm), representing a 52% increase above pre-industrial levels of 278 ppm.
The annual increase of 3.5ppm between 2023 and 2024 marks the largest jump since modern measurements began in 1957. This dramatic rise far exceeds the average annual increase of 2.4ppm recorded in the decade from 2011 to 2020, highlighting an alarming acceleration in atmospheric carbon accumulation.
Methane and nitrous oxide concentrations also hit new record highs in the past year, according to the WMO's annual greenhouse gas bulletin. The organisation attributed the record increases to continued emissions from human activities combined with a surge in wildfire emissions.
Natural carbon storage weakening
The Earth's natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide is declining as global temperatures rise. Oceans absorb less CO2 because the gas dissolves less effectively in warmer water, while drought-stressed land ecosystems cannot take in as much carbon as before.
Ko Barrett, WMO deputy secretary-general, said: "The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbo-charging our climate and leading to more extreme weather. Reducing emissions is therefore essential not just for our climate but also for our economic security and community well-being."
About half of annual carbon dioxide emissions are normally absorbed by forests, other land ecosystems and oceans. However, this crucial carbon storage capacity is becoming less effective as the planet heats up, potentially creating a dangerous feedback loop.
El Nino effect amplifies crisis
The record 2024 increase coincided with the world's hottest year on record and a strong El Nino weather pattern. El Nino years typically reduce carbon storage in land ecosystems due to drier vegetation and increased forest fires, as seen in the Amazon and southern Africa during 2024.
Oksana Tarasova, a WMO senior scientific officer, said: "There is concern that terrestrial and ocean CO2 sinks are becoming less effective, which will increase the amount of CO2 that stays in the atmosphere, thereby accelerating global warming."
The carbon dioxide released today will continue affecting the global climate for hundreds of years due to the greenhouse gas's long lifetime in the atmosphere. The pace of atmospheric accumulation has tripled from an annual average increase of 0.8ppm in the 1960s to current levels.
Urgent action needed
Alec Hutchings, WWF's chief climate adviser, said: "The sharp rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere last year is huge cause for concern. Our planet's land and oceans have absorbed about half of our emissions so far, but we continue to pile pressure on these environments, and they cannot keep up."
The WMO emphasised that sustained greenhouse gas monitoring is critical to understanding these feedback loops. The organisation warned that weakening natural carbon sinks could significantly accelerate the pace of climate change beyond current projections.
Sources used: "World Meteorological Organisation", "WWF" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
