Biggest ever rise in atmospheric CO2 recorded

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere soared to record levels in 2024, committing the planet to more long-term temperature increase, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

- Jayashree Nandi

The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin said continued emissions of CO2 from human activities and from wildfires, and reduced CO2 absorption by “sinks” such as land ecosystems and the ocean were responsible for this spike.

From 2023 to 2024, the global average concentration of CO2 surged by 3.5 ppm, the largest increase since modern measurements started in 1957, WMO added. Growth rates of CO2 have tripled since the 1960s, accelerating from an annual average increase of 0.8 ppm per year to 2.4 ppm per year in the decade from 2011 to 2020.