A new report issued by the United Nations presents worrying assessments of carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere. According to the document, the concentration of the gas has seen its largest annual increase since measurements began in 1957, and these climate data come at a convenient time for this topic: on the eve of COP30, which will be held in Belém, Brazil. This increase is a direct consequence of the increase in fossil fuel burning, forest fires, and the decreasing capacity of oceans and forests to absorb carbon.
Record surge intensifies climate fears and pressures global leaders for action
The report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reveals that between 2023 and 2024, atmospheric CO₂ levels rose by 3.5 parts per million (ppm), reaching a global average of 424 ppm — the highest value ever recorded in history. This figure represents a 152% increase compared to pre-industrial concentrations, before the year 1750. For context, in 2004, the global average stood at just 377 ppm, highlighting the accelerating pace of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere.
But CO₂ isn’t the only source of concern highlighted in the report. Other gases like methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) also reached new records, indicating a scenario of accelerated warming. Methane, which has a much greater warming power than CO₂, increased 166% compared to pre-industrial levels, while N₂O increased 25%.
Scientifically, the report indicates that the increase in these gases is increasingly exacerbating the greenhouse effect and consequently causing more severe climate changes such as heat waves, intense storms, and prolonged droughts. According to the WMO, global warming is already altering weather patterns and threatening food production and the security of entire communities.
When climate feedback loops become a threat to natural balance
There’s a phenomenon called “positive feedback,” referring to a self-reinforcing cycle in which warming generates even more warming, becoming a growing source of global concern. In short, the more the Earth warms, the less capacity oceans and forests have to absorb CO₂ efficiently, which, in turn, further accelerates and amplifies the planet’s overall warming process.
“There is concern that terrestrial and ocean CO₂ sinks are becoming less effective, which will increase the amount of CO₂ that remains in the atmosphere, thereby accelerating global warming,” said Oksana Tarasova, a senior scientist at the WMO.
How feedback loops amplify global warming
Climate catastrophes like wildfires release more CO₂, which raises Earth’s temperature and increases the likelihood of more fires, creating a harmful cycle for the environment. At the same time, the oceans, which absorb about half of the carbon emitted, are warming, reducing their ability to capture gas. This entire process creates a major climate imbalance.
Tarasova warns about this issue, stating that if this cycle isn’t interrupted, entire ecosystems could reach critical points, leading to scenarios of no return. A real-life example of this is the melting of permafrost (frozen soil), which releases large amounts of methane trapped underground and has no way of returning to its original state.
Global cooperation faces new test ahead of COP30 in Brazil
The three largest greenhouse gas emitters are China, United States, and India. With COP30 approaching, pressure is growing for concrete measures, for the entire world, but especially for these three nations. The meeting is expected to discuss, among other topics, strengthening global gas monitoring and financing clean technologies in developing countries.
The new CO₂ record, besides being a number in a technical report, is also an urgent warning about the impact of human actions on the environment and the need to reduce emissions as soon as possible to avoid irreversible impacts that, in some scenarios, are already part of our present.