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A Grim Signal: Atmospheric CO2 Soared in 2024
Scientists are worried because they can’t fully explain the big jump, but they think it might mean that carbon absorption by forests, fields and wetlands is slowing down—a major problem for the world. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24042025/global-carbon-dioxide-concentration-in-atmosphere-soared-2024/

In recent decades, the increase has been in annual increments of 1 to 2 ppm. But last year, the increase measured by the NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory was 3.75 ppm, according to the lab’s early April update of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. That brings the annual mean close to 430 ppm, about 40% more than the pre-industrial level, & enough to heat the planet by about 2.7F (1.5C)

Even if the growth rate slows again in 2025, “the worry is that this year’s jump might include non-El Niño factors like temperature responses from soils & vegetation that might persist or intensify as the Earth warms.” The unprecedented increase of atmospheric CO2 is just one of several red lights flashing on the climate dashboard.