Record Greenhouse Gas Levels Challenge Climate Goals

In 2023, greenhouse gas concentrations reached unprecedented levels according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), setting new records for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide levels rose to 420 ppm, marking a 151% increase from pre-industrial times, driven by persistent fossil fuel emissions and exacerbated by large-scale wildfires and potential decreases in carbon absorption by forests. The WMO report, released ahead of the COP29 climate summit in Baku, emphasizes that the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. The persistent increase in greenhouse gases is anticipated to lock in rising temperatures for decades, causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the critical urgency for global leaders to address these rising emissions, with each increase in parts per million having significant impacts on the planet's climate.