The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a maximum in 800 thousand years

The concentration of carbon dioxide in our planet's atmosphere continues to steadily increase, as evidenced by the latest data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to the conducted research, in 2023 this indicator reached an unprecedented 420 ± 0.1 parts per million (ppm), which is the highest value in the last 800 thousand years of Earth's history.

Data analysis showed that the CO2 level in 2023 (the latest period for which complete global statistics are available) exceeded the previous year's figure by 2.3 ppm. Even more alarming is the comparison with the pre-industrial era – the modern concentration of carbon dioxide is 151% higher than in 1750. WMO specialists emphasize the scale of the problem: 420 ppm is equivalent to 3,276 gigatons, or 3,276 trillion tons of carbon dioxide circulating in the atmosphere.

The situation is exacerbated by record levels of other greenhouse gases. The concentration of methane reached 1,934 parts per billion (ppb), and nitrous oxide – 336.9 ppb. These values exceed the pre-industrial level by 265% and 125% respectively.

Climatologists predict that in 2024 the concentration of greenhouse gases will continue to rise. The last two years have already been the hottest in the history of meteorological observations. This was facilitated by both the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and the El Niño climate phenomenon in the Pacific region. Additional warming factors could include changes in solar activity, volcanic eruptions, and a reduction in the amount of cooling aerosols in the atmosphere.

The world's oceans continue to accumulate heat, leading to rising sea levels. Of particular concern is the state of the cryosphere – frozen areas of the Earth's surface are melting "at an alarming rate," as noted on the official WMO website.