UN / CARBON DIOXIDE REPORT

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose by a record amount in 2024, reaching new highs and locking in further long-term warming and extreme weather, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:01:28
• Production Date: 15 October 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION - WMO
• Subject Topical: CLIMATE CHANGE; WEATHER
• MAMS Id: 3471771
• Parent Id: 3471771
• Alternate Title: unifeed251015i

Description

STORY: UN / CARBON DIOXIDE REPORT
TRT: 01:28
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 15 OCTOBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
15 OCTOBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, presser
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I just want to flag a World Meteorological Organization report today that shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere soared by a record number to new highs in 2024, committing the planet to more long-term temperature increase. The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin said continued emissions of CO2 from human activities and an upsurge from wildfires were responsible, as well as reduced CO2 absorption by “sinks” such as land ecosystems and the ocean.”
4. Med shot, reporters
5. Wide shot, presser
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“According to the report, concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide, which are the second and third most important long-lived greenhouse gases related to human activities, have also risen to record levels. WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett warned that the heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbo-charging our climate and leading to more extreme weather. He stressed that reducing emissions is therefore essential not just for our climate but also for our economic security and community well-being. “
7. Various shots, presser

Storyline

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose by a record amount in 2024, reaching new highs and locking in further long-term warming and extreme weather, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Briefing reporters today (15 Oct) in New York, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that according to the WMO report, “concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide, which are the second and third most important long-lived greenhouse gases related to human activities, have also risen to record levels.”

He added, “ WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett warned that the heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbo-charging our climate and leading to more extreme weather. He stressed that reducing emissions is therefore essential not just for our climate but also for our economic security and community well-being.”

The WMO’s latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin shows that CO₂ growth rates have tripled since the 1960s, accelerating from an annual average increase of 0.8 parts per million (ppm) to 2.4 ppm per year, in the decade from 2011 to 2020.
The rate jumped by a record 3.5 ppm between 2023 and 2024 – the largest increase since monitoring began in 1957.
Average concentrations reached 423.9 ppm in 2024, up from 377.1 ppm when the bulletin was first published in 2004.
Roughly half of CO₂ emitted remains in the atmosphere, while the rest is absorbed by land and oceans; storage that is weakening as warming reduces ocean solubility and worsens drought.
The 2024 spike was likely amplified by an uptick in wildfires and a reduced uptake of CO₂ by land and the ocean in 2024 – the warmest year on record, with a strong El Niño weather pattern effect.

The WMO issued the report ahead of the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, beginning in November, emphasising that sustained global monitoring is vital for guiding climate action.