CO2 Hits Record Highs in 2024 — Oceans and Land Are Struggling to Absorb It

Experts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have confirmed that in 2024, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached record highs.
According to an analysis of observations from the WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch network, average concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) at the Earth’s surface hit unprecedented peaks last year. Specifically, CO2 measured 423 ± 0.2 ppm (parts per million), CH4 measured 1942 ± 2 ppb (parts per billion), and N2O measured 338.0 ± 0.1 ppb.
The report says these are record-breaking levels for all three major greenhouse gases tied to human activity.
They represent increases of 52%, 166%, and 25% respectively compared with pre-industrial levels (before 1750), the WMO says.
Climatologists attribute the surge to several factors, including El Niño. In El Niño years — 2024 was one — CO2 levels often spike. Drier conditions fuel more wildfires and reduce ecosystems’ ability to absorb carbon.

Researchers are extremely concerned about where this additional CO2 is going. Typically, about 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the oceans, while roughly 20% are taken up by the land — vegetation, soils, and plants. However, these natural absorbers may have reached their limits. In 2023, they effectively did not absorb carbon dioxide. And as ocean temperatures rise, the oceans are increasingly less able to absorb CO2, IFLScience reports.
Climatologists warn this creates a catastrophic feedback loop: rising temperatures push CO2 levels higher in the atmosphere, which in turn causes further temperature increases.
‘The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases significantly impacts the Earth’s climate and leads to more extreme weather events. Therefore, reducing emissions is crucial not only for our climate but also for our economic security and societal well-being,’ said Co Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the WMO.
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