Paper: GS-III, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation, Issue: Rising CO2 Level
Context:
The WMO reported a record 3.5 ppm rise in global CO₂ levels to 423.9 ppm in 2024, the highest increase since 1957, making 2024 the warmest year on record at 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.
| World Meteorological Organization (WMO) About: It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) and is an authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources. Establishment: 1950Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. Membership: 193 Members, comprising 187 Member States and 6 Territories, each maintaining their own meteorological services. |
Key Highlights from the WMO Report
Long-term Trend:
- COâ‚‚ concentrations have never declined in the last 40 years.
- The rate of increase has tripled since the 1960s, reflecting both industrial growth and insufficient mitigation.
Failure of International Climate Framework
- Paris Agreement: The rapidly rising CO2 concentrations highlight the failure of the international climate framework, particularly the Paris Agreement, to effectively slow down global emissions.
Reasons Behind the Increase
Man-Made Activities: Continued emissions of CO2 from man-made activities contribute to the increase.
- Natural Variability: Variabilities in the natural CO2 loop also play a role.
- Reduced Absorption: Oceans and land sinks seem to have absorbed a lesser amount of CO2 in 2024.
- Forest Fires: An exceptionally high number of forest fire incidents resulted in additional emissions.
- Global Warming Impact: Global warming itself reduces the capability of natural sinks to absorb CO2.
- Ocean Absorption: At higher temperatures, oceans absorb less CO2 due to decreased solubility.
- Droughts: Extreme droughts reduce the absorption capacity of trees and grasslands.
- Feedback Loop: These processes feed into each other, worsening the CO2 imbalance and leading to more CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
The record COâ‚‚ surge highlights the worsening climate crisis and the need for urgent global action to cut emissions, restore natural sinks, and prevent irreversible warming.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/explained-rising-co2-levels-10313591
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