Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) soared to their highest levels ever in 2024, as the planet experienced a catastrophic rise in temperatures, culminating in the hottest year recorded. According to scientists, concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere climbed drastically, adding considerable pressure to global efforts aimed at limiting climate change.
Records show that CO2 levels are now over 50% higher than they were prior to extensive fossil fuel usage, reflecting a dire pattern of increasing emissions predominantly from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. Last year’s substantial fossil fuel emissions were exacerbated by natural events, such as wildfires and droughts, which diminished the Earth's capacity to absorb CO2.
The Met Office cautions that the alarming rate of atmospheric CO2 growth is "incompatible" with the international objective to restrict global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—a primary commitment made by nearly 200 nations during the pivotal Paris Agreement in 2015. Following a confirmation last week that 2024 was the first year to exceed the 1.5°C threshold, experts stress that consistent increases in CO2 highlight the growing challenge of meeting climate targets.
Richard Betts from the Met Office noted, "The rise in CO2 must be slowing to meet our climate goals, but the reality is quite the opposite." This troubling trend corresponds to observations that CO2 emissions from fossil fuels have reached unprecedented heights and that natural climate phenomena, including the El Niño weather pattern, have contributed to reduced absorption rates of CO2.
Ice core analyses indicate that CO2 concentrations are currently at their highest point in at least two million years. As of 2024, levels surged to over 424 parts per million (ppm), a record annual increase established since the commencement of atmospheric measurements in Hawaii in 1958.
Hiatuses in carbon absorption capacity due to rampant wildfires and deforestation, particularly within the Amazon and Arctic regions, pose an ongoing threat to the global climate. Betts mentioned ongoing transformations in these regions could diminish their role as carbon sinks, calling for urgent scrutiny.
While projections suggest the rate of CO2 increase may slow down in 2025 as La Niña conditions replace El Niño, experts caution that the overarching trend of greenhouse gas accumulation will persist, fuelling further climate warming. “Despite potential temporary coolings, the underlying build-up of CO2 will inevitably reignite warming,” Betts warned.
As scientists continue to monitor these changes, the implications of unprecedented CO2 levels loom heavily over the future of climate action and global environmental sustainability.
