Global CO₂ levels hit record high as growth rate triples since the 1960s

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, atmospheric CO₂ reached a concentration of 426.8 ppm by the close of 2025, marking an all-time high and a 153 % increase over pre-industrial levels. The rate of CO₂ growth has tripled since the 1960s, climbing from 0.8 ppm per year to 2.4 ppm per year in the 2010s, and rising by 2.8 ppm between 2024 and 2025. WMO deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett said the record-setting levels trap unprecedented heat, intensifying extreme weather and long-term climate risks.

Scientific adviser Oksana Tarasova linked the modest slowdown to recovering land carbon sinks after a severe El Niño, but expects another rise in 2026 due to continued fossil-fuel use and another strong El Niño. The study also notes record concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide, while highlighting rising pollutants like sulphur hexafluoride from the electricity sector. Experts stress that even small annual increases cement decades of warming, making rapid emission reductions essential, though they note that renewable energy generation overtook coal in 2025, offering a glimmer of hope.