The increase in global CO2 emissions of over 2 billion metric tons in 2022 is the largest in history in absolute terms, more than offsetting the previous year's pandemic-induced decline.
The concentration of atmospheric CO2 surged past 420 parts per million for the first time in recorded history this past weekend, according to a measurement taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory on Hawaii.
The world hit another new record high for heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, despite reduced emissions because of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists announced Thursday.
Average concentrations of carbon dioxide hit new highs of 405.5 parts per million (ppm) in 2017, up from 403.3 ppm in 2016 and 400.1 ppm in 2015, levels not seen for millions of years.
Even the UK and China—economies which are leading the way in terms of reducing carbon intensity—are not doing enough to meet the 2 degree target, the newest report says.
Over the last 800,000 years, pre-industrial atmospheric CO2 content remained below 280 ppm, but it has now risen to the 2016 global average of 403.3 ppm.
Using satellites and supercomputers, NASA scientists have recreated a year in the life of CO2.
For the first time in 4 million years, carbon dioxide concentrations cleared 400 parts per million (ppm) at the South Pole. It's the last climate-monitoring spot on Earth to pass the historic milestone.
