WMO and UN Urge Immediate Action as Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit New Milestone

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has emphasised the need for immediate action from top polluters to protect us from climate change, as evidenced by UN statistics last Monday, showing a record level of greenhouse emissions.

Additionally, as world leaders prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku next month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns about the human cost of ignoring the issue.

A Wake-up Call

WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett stated that carbon dioxide (CO2)—one of the three main greenhouse gases, with methane and nitrous oxide—is accumulating faster than ever in human history. She stressed that due to CO2's long lifetime, the world is committed to rising temperatures for many years to come, echoing the UN chief's pleas.

Besides, the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) highlights the urgent need to slow down the increase in CO2 levels. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rose from 377.1 ppm in 2004 to 420 ppm in 2023, an 11.4 per cent increase in just 20 years.

The (WMO) has underlined the significant impact of temperature increase on glacier retreat, sea level rise, ocean heat, species extinction, ecosystems, and economies.

Moreover, key greenhouse gas-producing events like forest fires and El Niño have led to drier conditions and increased gas concentrations in late 2023. The WMO analysis shows that only half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere.

The WMO's senior scientific officer, Oksana Tarasova, attributed the Canadian wildfires to the highest amount of greenhouse gases in human history, compared to the last 400 parts per million recorded three to five million years ago.

The Broader Implications: A Planet in Crisis

The Earth System Science Data report (ESSD) suggests that wildfire emissions caused an increase in carbon emissions from all fire events in 2023, totalling 8.6 billion tonnes of CO2, 16% above the average. Canada contributed 23% of emissions, causing a devastating fire season with 6,600 blazes across 45 million acres, affecting 230,000 people and 5% of the forest area.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo declared, “Another year, another record.” This could have contributed to the total emissions from last year, as preliminary findings suggest that every part per million and a fraction of a degree of temperature has a real impact on people's lives and the planet.

According to the WMO report, radiative forcing—the warming impact of greenhouse gases on our climate—rose 51.5% between 1990 and 2023. According to statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Annual Greenhouse Gas Index, CO2 was responsible for almost 80% of this rise.

WMO Deputy Secretary-General Barrett highlights that politicians worldwide reference scientific climate findings in their public declarations, suggesting they are listening to the latest climate forecasts. She noted the importance of national measures to transition to a “lower fossil fuel economy” for future generations' protection.

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