Greenhouse gas levels rise to record high
UN scientists warn ‘window of opportunity’ to tackle emissions is rapidly closing as carbon dioxide reaches 3 million-year-high

Greenhouse gases which drive global warming have hit levels not seen in three million years, prompting the UN to warn the window of opportunity to tackle emissions is almost closed.
The annual bulletin on greenhouse gases from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has found carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane gas are still rising, while banned ozone-depleting CFCs have also seen a resurgence.
“The last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of carbon dioxide was 3 to 5 million years ago, when the temperature was 2 to 3C warmer and sea level was 10 to 20 metres higher than now,” said WMO secretary general, Petteri Taalas.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The rise in concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere are now 46% greater than before the industrial revolution and the warming impact of these gases on the climate has increased by 41% since 1990.
Essentially, these findings “underline the fact that there is no sign in the atmosphere that efforts to cut greenhouse gases are having any success”, says the BBC.
It follows a recent report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which warned that the world needed to be essentially carbon neutral by 2050.
Scientists hope these figures will sharpen minds ahead of the COP24 meeting in Katowice, Poland, next week, where countries will discuss putting the Paris climate agreement into practice and increasing their ambitions when it comes to cutting warming gases.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“The science is clear,” Taalas said. “Without rapid cuts in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, climate change will have increasingly destructive and irreversible impacts on life on Earth.”
“The window of opportunity for action is almost closed” he added.
-
Miami Freedom Tower’s MAGA library squeeze
THE EXPLAINER Plans to place Donald Trump’s presidential library next to an iconic symbol of Florida’s Cuban immigrant community has South Florida divided
-
Trump wants to revive coal. Will it work?
Talking Points Wind, solar and natural gas are ascendant
-
Is the first AI ‘actor’ the beginning of Hollywood’s existential crisis?
Today's Big Question 'Tilly Norwood' sparks a backlash
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations