WMO Reports Record Carbon Dioxide Rise, Climate Risks Threaten 900 Million Poor

The World Meteorological Organisation reported that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reached a record high in 2024, driven largely by human activities and wildfires, accelerating climate change and extreme weather events that threaten global temperature goals under the Paris Agreement. The UNDP highlighted the disproportionate impact on the world's poorest, who are highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as extreme heat and flooding, exacerbating poverty and instability. Senior insurance industry figures warn that climate change is pushing some regions towards becoming uninsurable, with calls for urgent innovation, risk repricing, and stronger coordination between insurers, governments, and communities to manage rising risks. Experts emphasize that climate risk ownership lies with governments and communities, not just insurers, and advocate for transparent risk pricing and proactive measures to mitigate uninsurability. These developments underscore the urgent need for collective climate action, integrating financial reforms and risk management strategies to safeguard both environmental and economic security.