Top Posts
Report: Nigeria, others may lose $300 billion, 49m...
Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics
Nigeria insurers prepare to global delegates on climate...
Energy Dept. asks employees not to use words...
Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies
Borno govt, NGOs demand funding on climate change...
Lagos rolls two-year flood plan to integrate lakes,...
UN official says climate change displaces up to...
UN ends high-level week with calls for peace,...
Ahead of COP30 conference, new national climate plans...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

Atmospheric CO2 is now 50% higher than pre-industrial levels

by Segun Ogunlade April 6, 2023
written by Segun Ogunlade April 6, 2023
659

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide which are the most significant contributors to global heating from greenhouse gases emitted by human activity continued to increase rapidly during 2022.

Carbon dioxide levels rose by more than two parts per million (ppm) for the 11th consecutive year, the highest sustained rate of CO2 increases since monitoring began 65 years ago. Before 2013, scientists had never recorded three consecutive years of such high CO2 growth, but atmospheric CO2 is now 50% higher than pre-industrial levels as at 2022.

Last year’s methane rise was the fourth-largest since records began in 1983, following record growth in 2021 and 2022, and now stands at an average of 1,912 parts per billion (ppb). Although methane is less abundant than CO2, it is nevertheless a potent greenhouse gas which warms the Earth’s atmosphere much faster, and today is responsible for about 25% of the heat trapped by all greenhouse gases.

Methane levels in the atmosphere are now more than two and a half times their pre-industrial level. The oil and gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane, which can also cause medical complications, fires and even engine failure leading helicopters to fall out of the sky.

Read also: Zurich Insurance quits climate alliance less than a week after Munich Re

Levels of nitrous oxide, are now 24% higher than pre–industrial levels, following a 1.25ppb rise last year, making it the third-most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas.

Fossil fuel-powered vehicles (cars, buses, trucks, farm machinery) are a major source of nitrous oxide, which is harmful to human health and water sources. But the primary culprits behind rising nitrous oxide levels in recent decades have been synthetic fertilisers and livestock manure from industrialised agriculture.

“The observations collected by Noaa scientists in 2022 show that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at an alarming pace and will persist in the atmosphere for thousands of years,” said Rick Spinrad, the NOAA administrator.

“The time is now to address greenhouse gas pollution and to lower human-caused emissions as we continue to build toward a Climate-Ready Nation.”

Last month, a “final warning” on rising greenhouse gas emissions that have pushed the world to the brink of irrevocable damage that only swift and drastic action can avert was delivered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that consists of the world’s leading climate scientists.

Story was adapted from the Guardian.

Climate changeCO2 emissionMethane emissions
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
Zurich Insurance quits climate alliance less than a week after Munich Re
next post
Document shows G7 may support new gas investments despite climate warnings

Related Posts

Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics

October 3, 2025

Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies

October 1, 2025

UN official says climate change displaces up to...

September 30, 2025

UN ends high-level week with calls for peace,...

September 30, 2025

China announces plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions...

September 25, 2025

China locks down as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears...

September 24, 2025

Trump says climate change ‘greatest con Job in...

September 24, 2025

PERILS sets final industry loss estimate for 2024...

September 22, 2025

Guterres says 1.5C climate warming goal could fail

September 22, 2025

Australia sets 62-70% GHG emission reduction target by...

September 22, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World