Global carbon dioxide levels have climbed to their highest point in recorded history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In its latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the WMO reported that atmospheric CO₂ concentrations rose by 3.5 parts per million between 2023 and 2024—the largest annual increase since measurements began in 1957.

The agency warns that this surge in CO₂ is driving an alarming rise in extreme weather events around the world. The combination of fossil fuel emissions and massive wildfires—especially across South America, Canada, and Africa—has pushed the planet’s atmosphere into increasingly unstable territory. WMO scientists cautioned that the data paints a clear picture: global efforts to curb emissions remain far too slow to counteract accelerating climate feedbacks.

The report also found that other heat-trapping gases, including methane and nitrous oxide, are reaching new highs. Together, these greenhouse gases have amplified global warming, contributing to record-breaking heat waves, droughts, and floods seen throughout 2025.

Adding to the concern, the world’s natural carbon sinks—forests, soils, and oceans—are showing signs of strain. In regions like the Amazon, years of deforestation, heat, and drought are reducing trees’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Similar patterns are being observed in coral reefs and peatlands, both of which store vast amounts of carbon that could be released as temperatures continue to climb.

The WMO emphasized that while global emissions may appear to have plateaued, the cumulative buildup of greenhouse gases continues to accelerate. The organization’s Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas, described the findings as “a warning siren for humanity,” underscoring that every year of delay makes future stabilization more difficult and costly.

This announcement comes just weeks before the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, where world leaders are expected to negotiate stronger emission-reduction targets and funding for climate adaptation. Yet, as the WMO makes clear, the science leaves no room for complacency—warming will continue for centuries unless immediate, coordinated action is taken.

The latest findings are a sobering reminder that the planet’s atmosphere is changing faster than policy responses can catch up. Without decisive action, humanity may soon face a climate defined not by gradual change, but by permanent extremes.