By Abbas Nazil
Global carbon dioxide levels soared by a record margin in 2024, reaching unprecedented heights and intensifying fears of faster global warming, according to new data from the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The report revealed that atmospheric CO2 rose by 3.5 parts per million (ppm) last year, hitting a global average of 424ppm — the highest level since modern measurements began in 1957.
Scientists warn that the surge could mark the beginning of a dangerous feedback loop, as natural systems that absorb carbon — such as forests and oceans — show signs of weakening under rising temperatures.
The WMO attributed the sharp rise to persistent fossil fuel use despite global pledges to phase down coal, oil, and gas, along with massive wildfires intensified by record-breaking heat and drought.
In 2024, wildfire emissions in the Americas hit historic levels, amplifying concerns about the compounding effects of climate change.
Researchers are particularly worried that the Earth’s “carbon sinks,” which absorb about half of all CO2 emissions, are becoming less effective.
Warmer oceans can take in less carbon, while drought and fires reduce the ability of trees and plants to store it.
Dr. Oksana Tarasova, a senior scientific officer at the WMO, cautioned that weakening carbon sinks could lead to more CO2 remaining in the atmosphere, accelerating warming even further.
She emphasized the need for sustained global monitoring and urgent emission reductions.
Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General, said the heat trapped by greenhouse gases is “turbo-charging” the climate crisis and intensifying extreme weather events worldwide.
He warned that the long lifespan of CO2 means today’s emissions will impact the planet for centuries.
The report also found that atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide — the second and third most significant greenhouse gases — reached record levels in 2024.
Methane emissions surged due to fossil fuel extraction, livestock farming, and wetland activity worsened by rising temperatures, while nitrous oxide increases were linked to fertilizer overuse and industrial processes.
The findings come just weeks before COP30, the UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil, where global leaders are expected to strengthen their commitments to curb emissions and slow the worsening climate crisis.
Scientists warn that unless urgent action is taken, the weakening of natural carbon sinks could trigger irreversible climate feedbacks, making it even harder to limit global temperature rise to safe levels.
