Climate Greenhouse gas concentration in the Earth's atmosphere at a new record high
The concentration of climate-damaging greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere reached a new record high last year. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is accumulating in the Earth's atmosphere faster than ever before.
28.10.2024, 11:15
28.10.2024, 11:39
SDA
According to a report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva on Monday, the concentration of CO₂ has increased by more than ten percent in the past two decades alone. Due to the long lifespan of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, these emissions will continue to cause temperatures to rise for decades to come, even if greenhouse gas emissions were quickly reduced to zero from now on.
"We are clearly not on track to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement," warned WMO chief Celeste Saulo. The Paris Climate Agreement concluded in 2015 aims to limit global warming to well below two degrees compared to the pre-industrial age, and preferably even to 1.5 degrees. However, as long as humanity continues to produce greenhouse gases, for example through the use of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, their concentration in the Earth's atmosphere will increase and cause temperatures to rise further.
According to the WMO, 64 percent of the ongoing global warming is due toCO2 emissions. However, methane and nitrogen oxide, also known as nitrous oxide, are also significant greenhouse gases. Since the pre-industrial age before 1750, the concentration of CO₂ increased by 151 percent by 2023, methane by 265 percent and nitrogen oxide by 125 percent.
These values are "more than statistics", says Saulo. Every further increase in greenhouse gas concentrations and "every fraction of a degree" of further global warming has "a real impact on our lives and our planet".
