Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record highs

_{In 2023, average CO2} concentrations will be 420 parts per million (ppm), a 151% increase over pre-industrial levels .

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on October 28 that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere will reach a new record high in 2023, making it difficult to achieve the goal of limiting global temperature increases to below 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times in the next few years without urgent action.

In its annual report on greenhouse gas emissions, WMO stated that concentrations of three greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ), methane (CH ₄ ) and nitrous oxide (N ₂ O ) continued to accumulate at new high levels in 2023.

Burning fossil fuels increases greenhouse gas pollution - (Photo: AFP).

Of these, _CO2 alone is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than ever , increasing by more than 10% over the past two decades. In 2023, the average CO2 concentration _was 420 parts per million (ppm), equivalent to an increase of 151% compared to the pre-industrial period (before 1750).

Meanwhile, the concentration of CH ₄ was at 1,934 parts per billion, an increase of 265% compared to the pre-industrial period. The figure for N ₂ O was 336 parts per billion, an increase of 125% compared to the pre-industrial period.

The report was released ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November in the Azerbaijani capital Baku.

WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barret warned that the world is facing a "vicious cycle" where climate change itself could soon make ecosystems a larger source of greenhouse gas emissions than before.

Wildfires can release more CO ₂ into the atmosphere, while warmer oceans can absorb less CO _2. As a result, more CO ₂ can accumulate in the atmosphere than before, accelerating global warming.

Meanwhile, national commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions are still not strong enough to achieve the current goal of limiting global warming.