Carbon dioxide levels rise by a record amount

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose by a record amount in 2024, reaching new highs and locking in further long-term warming and extreme weather, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Briefing reporters on Wednesday in New York, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that according to the WMO report, “concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide, which are the second and third most important long-lived greenhouse gases related to human activities, have also risen to record levels.”

The WMO issued the report ahead of the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, beginning in November, emphasizing that sustained global monitoring is vital for guiding climate action.