• Global atmospheric CO2 levels rose by 3.5 parts per million in 2024, marking the largest annual increase since 1957.
• The rise in CO2 levels is attributed to human activities and increased wildfires, particularly in South America.
• Concentrations of other greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide have also reached record levels.
• The increasing CO2 levels are linked to more extreme weather and pose dire warnings of a deteriorating climate situation.
• Natural sinks, including forests and oceans, are becoming less effective at absorbing CO2, worsening the climate crisis.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere soared by 3.5 parts per million from 2023 to 2024, representing the largest single-year increase since modern measurements began in 1957. This alarming increase has committed the planet to a greater long-term temperature rise and is largely driven by ongoing emissions from fossil fuels and wildfires, particularly in regions affected by the El Niño phenomenon, such as South America, where significant fire activity was reported in 2024.

The WMO's latest report highlights a "vicious climate cycle," exacerbated by human activities that hinder the Earth's natural processes for absorbing CO2. Notably, emissions from the combustion of coal, oil, and gas have contributed to this surge, while wildfires further amplify the situation by releasing additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett emphasized the urgency of reducing emissions, stating, "Reducing emissions is therefore essential not just for our climate but also for our economic security and community well-being," indicating the interconnection between environmental health and economic stability according to africanews, indiatimes, and aa.

The findings signal an escalating climate emergency, as the WMO noted a troubling tripling of carbon growth rates since the 1960s. From an average increase of 0.8 parts per million per year, it surged to 3.5 ppm over the latest year. The concentration of CO2 now stands at approximately 423.9 ppm, significantly above the safe threshold of 350 ppm. Additionally, greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide reached record concentrations, raising further alarms about the climate's trajectory according to scmp, latimes, and Reuters.

Critical to understanding these rising trends is the diminishing efficiency of natural carbon sinks. As these systems, which include forests and oceans, struggle under heightened stress from climate change, their capacity to absorb CO2 diminishes. Oksana Tarasova of the WMO highlighted that rising temperatures and prolonged dry conditions severely affect photosynthesis in trees, particularly in vital ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest, which has begun to emit CO2 rather than absorb it. This feedback loop not only threatens biodiversity but accelerates global warming, reinforcing the urgent need for climate action as stated by africanews, scmp, and Reuters.