The year 2024 is set to witness a concerning rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, potentially surpassing the critical trajectory needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the UK's Met Office.
Researchers highlight that increased emissions from fossil fuels and ongoing deforestation are major contributors to this trend. Compounding these factors is the cyclical El Niño weather pattern, which this year is expected to diminish the capacity of tropical forests to absorb carbon.
The Met Office forecast indicates that annual average CO2 concentrations at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii will rise by approximately 2.84 parts per million (ppm) compared to 2023. This significant increase threatens to push the world beyond the main pathways outlined by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which aims to cap warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Experts emphasize that only \"drastic\" reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can keep the 1.5°C target within reach, urging immediate and comprehensive action from governments, businesses, and individuals worldwide.
Reference(s):
Expected CO2 levels in 2024 threaten 1.5°C limit: UK Met Office
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