Scientists warn that Earth’s climate is heading into uncharted territory.
In a new report released on Thursday, researchers from NOAA, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and UC San Diego reveal that levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have risen faster and higher than ever before, reaching a level unprecedented in human history.
NOAA reported that carbon dioxide concentrations peaked at just under 427 parts per million in May, marking the highest two-year increase ever recorded from 2022 to 2024.
“It’s incredibly surprising to see such a significant rise in CO2 levels not just in one year, but sustained over two consecutive years,” said John Miller, a climate scientist at the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory.
NOAA also noted that global carbon dioxide levels increased more rapidly from January to April this year than in any previous year.
This surge in greenhouse gases, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, is driving up global temperatures as CO2 and other gases trap heat in the atmosphere like a blanket.
“When it comes to climate change, we are not the victims, we are the perpetrators,” remarked United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. “But we also hold the key to the solution.”
With 2023 marking the hottest year on record, scientists attribute the rising temperatures to more frequent extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires.
NOAA reported that the U.S. has already faced seven weather or climate disasters costing at least $1 billion each in 2024.
Addressing the issue of climate change necessitates a reduction in carbon emissions, according to experts.
“It is crucial for the United States to take the lead in combating global climate change by reducing emissions,” emphasized science communicator Bill Nye.
