The concentration of greenhouses gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere reached its highest level on record last year, driven by human activity and vegetation fires, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
CO2 concentration hit 420ppm, recording a larger annual increase than the previous year and standing at 151pc above pre-industrial levels, according to the WMO's annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin published today, which is designed to inform the UN's Cop climate conferences.
"Stubbornly high" CO2 emissions from fossil-fuelled human activity combined with emissions from vegetation fires and a "possible" fall in CO2 absorption by forests to drive the increase, the WMO said.
Methane concentration also stood at 265pc above pre-industrial levels in 2023 and nitrous oxide at 125pc above.
The surge in GHG levels in the atmosphere is "committing the planet to rising temperatures for many years to come", the WMO warned, hindering attempts to meet the Paris climate agreement's goal to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and preferably to 1.5°C above.
A report by the UN Environment Programme last week found that the world is set for a "catastrophic temperature rise" of up to 3.1°C above pre-industrial levels unless G20 countries act to cut all GHG emissions.
"Another year. Another record. This should set alarm bells ringing among decision makers," WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo said today.
