World Meteorological Report Marks Biggest Annual Jump in CO2 Levels

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported the biggest annual jump in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels ever recorded. The increase, which was the largest since modern measurements began more than 50 years ago, may have been driven by surging emissions from wildfires. According to the WMO, the global average atmospheric CO2 concentration reached a new high of 413.2 parts per million (ppm) in 2021, up from 410.7 ppm in 2020. This represents a year-on-year increase of 2.5 ppm, the largest since record-keeping began in 1958. The WMO attributes the significant rise in CO2 levels to various factors, including increased fossil fuel use as economies recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of wildfires, which can release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. This rapid rise in greenhouse gas emissions is a concerning trend, as it contributes to ongoing climate change and its associated impacts, such as rising temperatures, sea level, and extreme weather events.