The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released data showing that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have reached new highs in 2018.
According to the WMO, the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere in 2018 was just above the average rise recorded over the last decade while the levels of other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, have also increased by above average amounts.
The WMO report examined not just emissions but concentrations of warming gases in the atmosphere. While emmissions pertain to the amount of gases that go up into the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuels, concentrations are what's left in the air after a complex series of interactions between the atmosphere, the oceans, the forests and the land
The seas absorb around a quarter of all carbon emissions while a similar amount is absorbed by land and trees. The researchers used data from monitoring stations in the Arctic and all over the world and determined that CO2 concentrations have reached 407.8 parts per million (ppm) in 2018, compared to 405.5 ppm in 2017.
This surge was above the average for the past decade and is 47% of the "pre-industrial" level in 1750.
The WMO report also recorded concentrations of other greenhouse gases, including methane, which is now at 259% of the pre-industrial level and nitrous oxide which is now at 123% pre-industrial level.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said: "There is no sign of a slowdown, let alone a decline, in greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere despite all the commitments under the Paris agreement on climate change. We need to translate the commitments into action and increase the level of ambition for the sake of the future welfare of mankind."
"It is worth recalling that the last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was three to five million years ago. Back then, the temperature was 2-3C warmer, sea level was 10-20m higher than now," Taalas added.
