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Planet-Warming Pollution Reaches Record Highs as Fossil Fuel Use Persists

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Planet-warming pollution has surged to unprecedented levels, with carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations in Earth's atmosphere reaching all-time highs, according to scientists. Data from the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin reveals that 2023 marked the highest levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide in human history, largely due to fossil fuel consumption and the shifting behavior of natural ecosystems. WMO researchers warn this pattern shows humanity is failing to curb climate change, with global temperatures poised to reach new records.

 

The WMO's report ties the steep rise in carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global warming, to unrelenting fossil fuel use and an alarming trend of ecosystems potentially emitting more greenhouse gases and losing their ability to absorb them.

 

As a result, the total heat-trapping potential of the atmosphere has increased by 51.5% since 1990, the year when United Nations scientists first warned of a potential climate catastrophe. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the urgency: “This should set alarm bells ringing among decision makers. Every part per million and every fraction of a degree temperature increase has a real impact on our lives and our planet.”

 

For the past 14 months, global temperatures have consistently exceeded preindustrial levels by at least 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), a threshold recognized by scientists as critical for avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. A recent U.N. report underscores that to keep global warming below this threshold, nations must reduce emissions by 42% from 2019 levels. However, the data in Monday’s bulletin indicates that the world remains far from achieving this target, with atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases accelerating at their fastest rate in the past decade.

 

Last year, carbon dioxide levels surpassed 420 parts per million, a concentration unseen since the Pliocene Epoch more than three million years ago. Back then, global temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius higher, sea levels were 30 to 60 feet above today’s levels, and early humans did not yet exist. The primary driver of recent increases in carbon dioxide, according to the WMO, remains the burning of coal, oil, and gas. Yet the report also points to evidence that human-induced warming is causing natural systems to release additional greenhouse gases, which in turn undermines the Earth’s ability to absorb emissions.

 

The data additionally highlights a major rise in carbon monoxide levels, particularly during 2023’s record-breaking wildfire season. Forest fires in Australia and Canada burned an extensive 37 million acres, contributing to global carbon emissions from wildfires that were 16% above average for the 2023-2024 season. Scientists report that last year’s fires were the largest observed source of carbon monoxide, a related gas produced during combustion, which adds further stress on atmospheric conditions.

 

Methane, a greenhouse gas with a heat-trapping potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide, is also rising at troubling rates. Analysis shows that while some methane increase results from fossil fuel burning, much of it stems from microbial activity in degraded ecosystems. Sources include bacteria in landfills, cow digestion, and natural processes in warming tropical wetlands and thawing Arctic permafrost. This release of methane from natural systems reflects a feedback loop that scientists fear could accelerate if warming continues unchecked.

 

Meanwhile, the net carbon absorption by ecosystems in 2023 dropped by roughly 28% compared to the previous two years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Monitoring Laboratory. Experts suggest this decline could be linked to record-high temperatures, which are known to stress vegetation and compromise ecosystems' capacity to act as carbon sinks. WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett noted, “We face a potential vicious cycle. These climate feedbacks are critical concerns to human society.” 

 

As the planet continues to warm, scientists warn that carbon sinks, such as forests and oceans, may continue to weaken, making climate goals more challenging to meet. The WMO’s findings underscore the gravity of the situation and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while investing in solutions to sustain and restore the planet’s natural carbon-absorbing systems.

 

Based on a report from the WP 2024-10-30

 

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thaibeachlovers Star Member

thaibeachlovers

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4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Meanwhile, the net carbon absorption by ecosystems in 2023 dropped by roughly 28% compared to the previous two years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Monitoring Laboratory. Experts suggest this decline could be linked to record-high temperatures, which are known to stress vegetation and compromise ecosystems' capacity to act as carbon sinks. WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett noted, “We face a potential vicious cycle. These climate feedbacks are critical concerns to human society.” 

Errrr, isn't it more likely because the rainforests are being burnt at record levels? Yet nothing is being done to stop it.

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