Record CO₂ Levels Reached in 2024: UN Warns of a Dangerous Climate Cycle Ahead

Carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere saw a record rise of 3.5 parts per million (ppm) from 2023 to 2024. This is the largest annual increase since 1957, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The average concentration hit 423.9 ppm, raising alarms that this could lead to long-term global warming.

Scientists stress that we’re caught in a “vicious climate cycle.” Rising emissions, severe wildfires, and shrinking natural carbon sinks—like forests and oceans—are worsening the situation. Ko Barrett, the WMO Deputy Secretary-General, emphasized, “The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbocharging our climate, leading to extreme weather. Cutting emissions is critical for both our climate and our communities.”

The WMO report linked this surge in CO2 to increased emissions from wildfires and a decline in natural sinks’ ability to absorb CO2. A strong El Niño event contributed to severe droughts and wildfires, especially in the Amazon and Southern Africa. As Oksana Tarasova, coordinator of the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, noted, “Terrestrial and ocean CO2 sinks are becoming less effective.” This means more CO2 will linger in the atmosphere, speeding up global warming.

Over half of all emitted CO2 stays in the atmosphere yearly. The rest is briefly absorbed by land and ocean ecosystems. Since the 1960s, the rate of CO2 growth has tripled, jumping from 0.8 ppm annually to 2.4 ppm between 2011 and 2020.

Alongside CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) also reached new highs in 2024. Methane concentrations rose to 1,942 parts per billion (ppb), now 166% above pre-industrial levels. About 60% of these emissions come from human activities, including livestock farming, rice cultivation, and fossil fuel extraction. Nitrous oxide levels increased to 338 ppb, largely due to fertilizers and biomass burning, marking a 25% rise since pre-industrial times.

In response, the WMO is calling for better monitoring of greenhouse gases. This is vital for guiding global climate efforts, especially ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Tarasova stated, “Sustained greenhouse gas monitoring is critical for supporting our climate action.”

Because CO2 can linger in the atmosphere for centuries, today’s emissions will influence climate for generations to come. The urgency for joint action to reduce greenhouse gases has never been clearer.

For more details on these findings, you can check out the latest WMO report here.

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