WMO report: Greenhouse gases reach new highs in 2023

Mountain communities worldwide are facing potentially catastrophic consequences due to melting glaciers linked to global warming and the increasing concentration of key greenhouse gases, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Report informs citing UN's website that, according to the document, greenhouse gas emissions have sharply risen to new highs, emphasizing the importance of urgent action, particularly in the lead-up to the COP29 Climate Conference in Baku.

Deputy Secretary-General of WMO, Ko Barrett, stated that carbon dioxide (CO2) - one of the three main greenhouse gases alongside methane and nitrous oxide - is now accumulating in the atmosphere "faster than at any time in human existence".

The WMO Greenhouse Gas Report 2024 serves as a stark scientific reminder that the growth of CO2 levels must be slowed down. In 2004, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 377.1 parts per million (ppm), and by 2023, it reached 420 ppm, according to data from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch. "This is an increase of 42.9 parts per million, or 11.4%, in just 20 years," explained Barrett.

Analysis shows that slightly less than half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere, just over a quarter is absorbed by the ocean, and slightly less than 30% is retained on land. The Greenhouse Gas Report is one of WMO's leading publications, released to inform the UN Climate Change Conference.