In a startling new report, scientists have announced that levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere skyrocketed at an unprecedented rate in 2024. This increase poses a significant threat to the global target of limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the Met Office.
This alarming spike occurred alongside record-breaking fossil fuel emissions and a struggling natural world that failed to absorb adequate CO2 due to devastating wildfires and droughts. Current CO2 levels have surpassed the pre-industrial baseline by more than 50%, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Global temperature records confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, with average temperatures exceeding the critical 1.5°C threshold, intensifying concerns surrounding climate change. According to experts, if the rise in CO2 levels continues at this pace, the world may soon be unable to achieve the goals set forth in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The unprecedented increase of almost 3.6 ppm in CO2 levels in one year—the highest since monitoring began in 1958—forces us to confront whether our climate targets are still achievable. The study suggests that natural carbon sinks, such as forests and oceans, are losing their effectiveness in absorbing CO2 due to ongoing climate impacts, including the influential El Niño phenomenon.
Experts urge vigilance as atmospheric CO2 concentrations are expected to remain significantly off-course relative to the Paris goals, even as La Niña's cooler conditions temporarily provide some relief. The consequences of inaction could be dire, making it imperative for nations to address fossil fuel reliance and protect natural ecosystems to preserve our climate future.
