Global Warming: Atmospheric Levels Of CO2, Methane And Nitrogen Shatter Previous Records

Scientists say that the world is heading in the wrong direction as the atmospheric levels of all three greenhouse gases have touched record levels, reveals a study conducted by the World Meteorological Organisation (reported first by The Guardian).

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WMO has discovered that methane concentrations have had the biggest year-on-year jump in methane concentrations in 2020 and 2021, ever since systematic measurements for methane commenced, nearly four decades ago.

Researchers theorise that methane rise could be a result of the activities of microbes in wetlands, rice paddies, and the guts of ruminating animals such as cattle. What has further contributed to this mess is the rising temperature, which offers ideal conditions for microbial methane production since they prefer damp, warm regions.

Researchers have also seen a drastic increase in CO2 levels, with the jump between 2020 to 2021 being larger than the annual growth rate over the past decade.

These greenhouse gases are responsible for further warming of the planet with the warming effect going up by 50 percent between 1990 and 2021. From this, CO2 comprised 80 percent.

WMO has highlighted that CO2 concentrations in 2021 were 415.7 parts per million, whereas methane was 1908 parts per billion and nitrous oxide was 334.5 parts per billion. To put these in perspective, these are 149 percent, 262 percent and 124 percent of pre-industrial levels.

The WMO secretary-general, Prof Petteri Taalas, said: ¡°The continuing rise in concentrations of the main heat-trapping gases, including the record acceleration in methane levels, shows we are heading in the wrong direction.¡±

Taalas added that even though the current levels are worrying, the increase in methane was actually reversible, however, CO2 still remained the biggest threat.

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¡°There are cost-effective strategies available to tackle methane emissions, especially from the fossil fuel sector, and we should implement these without delay. However, methane has a relatively short lifetime of less than 10 years, so its impact on climate is reversible. As the most urgent priority, we have to slash carbon dioxide emissions, which are the main driver of climate change and associated extreme weather, and which will affect climate for thousands of years through polar ice loss, ocean warming and sea level rise.¡±

He concluded by stating that the time was running out to manage the climate emergency with the gas levels reaching record heights. He calls for transformation in our industrial energy and transport systems, as well as our whole way of life. The needed changes are economically feasible and technically possible.

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