WMO reports CO₂ concentration at 423.9 ppm in 2024, marking the largest single-year rise since 1957 and signalling mounting challenges for global climate targets

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels surged to a record 423.9 parts per million (ppm) in 2024, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported, marking the largest single-year rise since systematic measurements began in 1957. The concentration now far exceeds the widely accepted safe threshold of 350 ppm.

The rise reflects continued emissions from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, compounded by reduced absorption by natural sinks such as forests and oceans. Increasingly frequent and intense wildfires have further accelerated the accumulation.

The WMO highlighted that the pace of CO₂ growth has intensified sharply over decades, from 0.8 ppm annually in the 1960s to 2.4 ppm during 2011–2020. The 2024 spike underscores the difficulty of meeting international climate targets.

The organisation warned that, if current trends persist, limiting global warming and achieving Paris Agreement goals will become increasingly challenging, with serious implications for ecosystems, food security, and human societies.

The report reinforces the need for urgent international coordination to curb emissions, enhance carbon sinks, and strengthen climate governance frameworks.