A report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has revealed that greenhouse gas levels soared to a new high in 2023, with carbon dioxide accumulating in the atmosphere faster than at any other time in human existence.
According to the WMO, wildfires, a possible reduction in carbon absorption by forests, and fossil fuels from human and industrial activities are the primary reasons for the increase in the percentage of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The WMO’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin highlighted that the average level of CO2 reached 420.0 parts per million (PPM), methane 1934 parts per billion (PPB) and nitrous oxide 336.9 PPB in 2023. These values are 151 per cent, 265 per cent and 125 percent of pre-industrial (below 1750) levels.
The CO2 increase of 2023 was higher than that of 2022, but lower than that of 2019. The annual increase of 2.3 PPM marked the 12th consecutive year with an increase above 2 PPM.
“This should set alarm bells ringing for decision-makers”, said Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary General. “We are clearly off-track to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and aiming for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is in its 20th issue. During the time the Bulletin has been published, the CO2 level has increased by 11.4 per cent (49 PPM) above the level of 377.1 PPM recorded in 2004 by the WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch network of monitoring stations.
The Bulletin reports on greenhouse gas concentrations rather than emissions, and analysis of its data shows that just under half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere. The level of greenhouse emissions can vary year to year due to natural cycles such as El Nino and El Nina.
In 2023, the Earth changed from a three-year-long El Nina to El Nino, and wildfires significantly affected parts of the world, such as Canada and Australia.
Canada experienced its worst wildfire on record, and Australia experienced its driest three-month period on record, with severe bushfires.
“The Bulletin warns that we face a potential vicious cycle,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary General. “Natural climate variability plays a big role in carbon cycle. But in the near future, climate change itself could cause ecosystems to become larger sources of greenhouse gases.”
“Wildfires could release more carbon emissions into the atmosphere, whilst the warmer ocean might absorb less CO2. Consequently, more CO2 could stay in the atmosphere to accelerate global warming.”
Read more here.
View the Bulletin here.