WMO Reports Record CO₂ Levels and Rising Global Temperatures

Key Points

Highest CO₂ Levels in 800,000 Years: Atmospheric CO₂ reached 420 ppm in 2023, with a 2.8 ppm increase in a single year—the fourth-largest rise since the 1950s.
Human-Caused Emissions: Anthropogenic activities contributed to 79% of the CO₂ rise in the past decade, with nearly half of emissions remaining trapped in the atmosphere.
Record-Breaking Global Temperatures: 2024 marked the hottest year in 175 years, with global near-surface temperatures 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.
Ocean Heat Surge: The past two decades saw ocean warming rates more than double compared to 1960–2005, with 2024 recording the highest ocean heat in 65 years.
Rising Sea Levels: Satellite data since 1993 shows a dramatic increase in global mean sea levels, with 2024 reaching an all-time high.
Glacial Mass Loss & Arctic Ice Decline: Glacier melting hit record levels between 2021–2024, and Arctic sea ice extent was the seventh lowest since 1979.
Additional Climate Factors: The report links warming trends to multiple factors, including Solar Cycle 25, reduced aerosol emissions from East Asia, and new shipping fuel regulations by the International Maritime Organization.