GHG concentrations break records

Concentrations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2018, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned.

It found that last year's increase in CO2 was just above the 10-year average, while concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide surged. There has been a 43% increase in long-lived GHGs warming the climate since 1990, with CO2 accounting for around 80% of this.

“There is no sign of a slowdown, let alone a decline in GHG concentrations in the atmosphere, despite all the commitments under the Paris Agreement,“ said WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas.

Meanwhile, a UN Environment Programme report warned that GHG emissions must fall by 7.6% every year during the next decade to limit global warming to 1.5ÀöC.

It states that the world is heading for a 3.2ÀöC temperature rise, and that collective ambition must increase fivefold to deliver Paris Agreement emission reductions.

“Failure to heed these warnings means we will continue to witness deadly heatwaves, storms and pollution,“ said UN secretary general Ant√≥nio Guterres.

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